Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

After spending a part of my morning at Bear Lake, I decided to do this hike to Emerald Lake the…read moresecond part of the day. This hike starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake trailhead and is 1.8 miles one way (3.6 miles RT). I would say that it is a moderate hike that has some elevation climb to it. You will pass both Nymph Lake and Dream Lake along way. The views along the way are spectacular. Emerald Lake is nestled in between some mountains at an elevation of 10,111 feet. You can see Hallett Peak and the jagged spires of Flattop Mountain across this iconic alpine lake. In between the two mountains is the Tyndall Gorge. There were some small ripples in the water caused but a slight wind. Several people that hiked here jumped in and swam in the water. I ended up relaxing on a large rock and eating my lunch while enjoying the view. Emerald Lake starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. To reach this trail, you must drive ten miles on Bear Lake Road after entering through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. There is a separate timed entry reservation that is required to access Bear Lake Road. If you are unable to find parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead, there is a free shuttle that you can ride to the trailhead.

It's always a pleasant surprise when you're able to experience the most gorgeous views without the…read moreexertion found with a typical hike. But that's exactly what we experience at Coyote Valley Trail - it's more of a leisurely walk that really showcases all of the beauty held within Rocky Mountain National Park. Your hike will take you through the valley, and you'll see boundless greenery and plenty of trees with the Colorado River running to the side. While we didn't see many animals, we did read that this is a great place for animal sightings. We did catch some moose tracks, though. About 2 miles roundtrip, there's plenty of info plaques, benches, and little scenic stops to enjoy as you meander. While there are some good mud puddles and dips toward the end of the hike, at least the first half would be easily done with a stroller - perfect for families. Lots of mosquitos in the parking lot and at the beginning of the trail - highly recommend you bring some bug spray. While many people enter the park through the Beaver Meadows entrance, Coyote Valley is actually close to the Grand Lakes entrance. This trail was not busy (nor was this entrance) during our visit. So it's possible not as many people come this way, and this beautiful hike is a bit more of a hidden gem.

This is such a pretty area. The short one mile nature trail offers sweeping views of the Kawuneeche…read moreValley and the Never Summer Mountains. Even though I didn't see any, there are all sorts of wildlife in this grassy area. Moose and elk are common in Coyote Valley. If you want to sit and enjoy this area, there are picnic tables and benches along the trail. The Coyote Valley Trailhead is located about five miles north of the Grand Lake Entrance. The Colorado River runs along this trail. The source of the Colorado River begins at La Poudre Pass Lake in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park and is not too far from here. It was cool to see this little stream and know that it travels all the way to the Gulf of California and is the same waters that carved out the Grand Canyon.

8.12.2025 I arrived at 7am on the dot to hike gem lake. I'm so thankful that I arrived early to…read moreavoid the crowds, and when I arrived to the lake I had the place to myself, the water was like glass and the sun was still not high in the sky which provided the most beautiful reflections off the lake which made for some wonderful photos. In all I enjoyed this hike very much, everything about it was very enjoyable. On the hike down I encountered a lot of people headed up at the 8 o'clock hour. So I feel I timed my hike perfectly.

Gem Lake Trail is a relatively short hike at 3.4 miles round trip. The parking lot allows for…read moreplenty of parking. This hike has a 830 feet elevation gain meaning that the 1.7 miles up the trail has a steady incline. The 1.7 miles down is all downhill. Once you reach the top, you will see Gem Lake. The last bit leading up to Gem Lake is a little steeper than the rest of the trail. Gem Lake is a rather small lake, although beautiful. There is also a bathroom near the top, although can't comment on the restroom since I didn't use it. The views are gorgeous. We went around 2:30pm and there is always a chance of showers around that time in June. I would recommend going earlier in the day if possible to capture the reflection in the lake more and to avoid possibly getting rained on. Highly recommend this trail.

With the mandatory timed entry to Bear Lake Road, we got lucky to secure a time to explore this…read morearea of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was our first stop on our hike heading into the forrest and it was an easy climb. These falls are loud and proud plus incredibly pretty. The falls thunder down Glacier Creek due to the heavy snowmelt. It's definitely a favorite spot for many people as it's only 1.6 miles so it's easy to access. Remember to pace yourself due to the altitude. I witnessed lots of huffing and puffing from people having to stop and catch their breath. We stayed long enough to take some pics and watch the falls and then moved on. Plenty of seating all around the falls for everyone. It's great short hike for those that just want to feel like they are "out there". Views are truly epic as is the entire park. Parking earlier in the day can be challenging. I recomment arriving very early or come later in the afternoon to secure a spot. Remember to pack in, pack out and LEAVE NO TRACE.

We picked this hike on our 1 day visit to RMNP and it was a great choice. It's a short 2 mile…read moreround trip from the Bear Lake parking area. This was our first time in park and we came in late May so did not expect all the snow and the slush on the trail so that was really awesome. Lots of elevation change as you climb up and down the trail and several small bridges that traverse all the small mountain springs. We saw a few blooming flowers, blue jays,chipmunks, and we spotted a baby rainbow trout hiding in a little pool in one of the springs. Incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and one you get to the falls it's a nice place to take a nice relaxing break in the many rock formations. Great hike.

Your back yard is basically Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a trailer park that is open May…read morethrough October. If your looking for a great place to keep your trailer for the summer there is no better place than this valley. I grew up spending the summer's here and I really enjoyed T lazy W as a community. When I was there the owner's had parties like ice cream socials and Christmas in July. If you don't own a trailer than there are several permanent mobile homes and some of them usually have a for sale sign on them.

Rented a pontoon boat and was surprised by how clean it was. The staff there were very helpful and…read moreknowledgeable. I will be defiantly be using them again.

BUYERS BEWARE! TOTAL SCAM! My husband and I had never…read morebeen on a motorboat much less driven one ourselves. A young man who was very nice helped us get on, he explained that we should stay 150 yards away from the shore to avoid any damage to the boat/propeller. We did exactly that, because it was literally our first time and we were very afraid of causing any damage. Upon return to the dock, a young employee was very matter of fact with a very stern expression and demeanor, telling us that we damaged the propeller. He did ask us if we recall hitting anything, and we did not... He then began to explain that we obviously did because the propeller was damaged and we were gonna have to pay for it. He then started throwing out numbers for the cost of the replacement. We were very adamant that we did not hit anything or go towards the shore as instructed. We asked for a manager, and Kevin Cox, the very confrontational manager, came walking out, holding the propeller up to my face, telling my husband and I that this is damage that we caused! He then began telling us that we are gonna pay for it, end of story! When I gave a rebuttal, telling him that I felt like this was a scam, he began to tell me that he knows for a fact that we drove near the shore! He began to make a scene and try to shame us in front of other customers... And when we responded, telling him he was full of it... He then called the police and told the police that we were causing a "verbal disturbance". We feel that he knew that the police could not force us to pay for the part so that was his cause for making an accusation of "verbal disturbance "! At that point, my husband said "let's go! "... Kevin Cox replied, "oh you're gonna leave, that means I have to go with you!"We walked about 3/4 of a mile and he followed the entire way. At that point, we sat down on a park bench... And he just stood there. We finally just got up and told him to quit following us and he stayed behind as we took off. We circled back around and to get our vehicle which was parked on their property... And saw a police officer there. We flagged the officer down, to speak with him about the matter. The officer was very courteous and friendly, and remained neutral. He did say that it was a possibility that we did cause the damage and didn't feel it, or know it and that Kevin Cox was probably going to charge our credit card for the cost of the propeller...he also stated that if we dispute the charges, he could potentially take us to Small Claims Court! It was a good thing I video recorded Fred's demeanor and him following us because I was able to show the police officer who let us walk because we did nothing wrong. Horrible customer service, a big time scam, by the way, the propellers are plastic... Which I believe is why they are easily damaged... But Kevin Cox told us that we were lucky it was plastic because if it was metal, it would cost double the amount!! ‍

Bear Lake is located on the eastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park, in the popular Bear Lake…read moreRoad Corridor. It was absolutely beautiful, with the lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks and a peaceful alpine setting. We spotted adorable chipmunks and beautiful blue-feathered birds along the way, which made the experience even more memorable. The roughly half-mile walk around the lake was manageable with our baby in a stroller and was a wonderful family-friendly way to experience the park. A beautiful and easy-to-enjoy stop that I would definitely recommend when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park!

The serenity and beauty are 5 star without a doubt. The lake is probably the single most visited…read morelocation in the entire RMNP. As such, it is incredibly over-crowded and over-touristed. The parking lots to the lake are full by 7am. The Park Service runs a shuttle from Estes Park (the visitor center) which is the way to go. You still need to buy an entrance permit to the park and a $2 permit to visit the lake, but avoiding the hassle of having a car in the park is worth it. The shuttle runs on a defined schedule which is available in the visitor center. They run a tight ship so buses leave promptly. If you do the shuttle (which is free) you need to buy a 1 day untimed pass to the national park (no vehicle). For the Bear Lake pass, you need to go online (recreation.gov) for RMNP the day before you intend to travel at 7pm. Do it quickly because spaces sell out quickly. You will want to reserve a specific time to get on the bus. For example, we did the 10am bus. The shuttle bus schedule is in the visitor center. They send your pass to your email that you show to driver. The lake itself is beautiful. The lake is a 256 feet "hike" from the entrance to the lake. In other words, it is so easy and accessible that everyone does it. When I say everyone, I mean imagine half the population of Manhattan. There are so many people that it is impossible to find any peace or quiet. Some people call this escaping to nature. At the Bear Lake entrance there are other hikes that range in length. The trip to Emerald lake is 1.8 miles and also very popular so expect large crowds. Overall, it is great to be in nature but the big downside is the crowds.

The Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park is a cascade of water flowing down through a…read moreboulder field. It is located off the Old Fall River Road about three miles west of the Fall River Entrance Station. Both the East and West parking lots provide access to the Alluvial Fan. I parked in the East lot and hiked the easy 0.7-mile out-and-back trail that leads to the bottom of the cascading waterfall. The West parking lot has picnic tables and allows access to the top of the waterfall. There are more boulders to climb on this route. There is a 56-foot long bridge that crosses over the river that allows access to the East side. The Alluvial Fan was formed in 1982 when a dam breached at Lawn Lake and brought down tons of water, trees, boulders and other debris into the valley. This fan-shaped area was formed as a result of all of the debris that was deposited. Today, it is a beautiful waterfall that cascades over a field of boulders. I took my shoes off and enjoyed walking and soaking my feet in the crystal-clear water. The surrounding valley and mountain views make it a nice area to relax and enjoy. The Old Fall River Road closes during the winter season.