bear lake

Bear Lake (9,475 ft) is one of the most popular spots in Rocky Mountain National Park. It lies, not unexpectedly, out at the end of Bear Lake Road. (Earlier this summer, while driving down Bear Lake Road, I actually saw a black bear ambling along beside the road! Of course, both cameras were in my pack in the boot of the Mini at the time.) There is a very large parking lot at the Bear Lake Trailhead, but it fills up quickly on summer weekends, so don’t be surprised if you have to backtrack and take the shuttle bus.

From the parking lot, it’s a short stroll to the shoreline of the lake. The Bear Lake Nature Trail makes a 0.65 mile loop around the lake and is wheelchair accessible for part of the way.

For photography purposes, the eastern & northern shores of the lake will be of most interest. From the eastern shore, there are a number of spots where compositions featuring Hallett Peak (12,713 ft) may be arranged. From the north shore, there is a great view up Glacier Gorge to my favorite mountain, Longs Peak (14,259 ft). By a quirk of perspective, Half Mountain (11,482 ft) will look just as tall as Longs Peak when you shoot from this side of Bear Lake.

If you’re willing to scramble up a few boulders above the north shore of the lake, you can do a bit of tame off-trail exploring and find a unique vantage point or two up among the aspens. This extra effort will yield a classic shot in the fall, with the yellow-leaved aspens in the immediate foreground, Bear Lake in the middle distance, and Longs Peak looming up across the way in the background.

Bear Lake is also the jumping-off point for hikes up to Nymph, Dream, & Emerald Lakes, as well as Lake Haiyaha. From the trailhead, you access the Flattop Mountain Trail & the trail to Bierstadt Lake. A short hike will even take you down to Glacier Gorge Junction where you can hook up with the Loch Vale Trail. No wonder the Bear Lake Trailhead is such a popular spot in RMNP!

Bear Lake is a great place to take visitors from out-of-town who may not be up to a more strenuous hike at this altitude. The easy hike around the lake and the stunning views west & south will give them a good taste of what makes Rocky Mountain National Park such a special place.

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Thanks for reading about stuff I’ve photographed. ~ Rich