Get very early to secure the parking spot and avoid bad weather. We left at 1 pm and we experienced snow storm driving down in the middle of August. Elevation makes the weather colder. Trailhead is easy. Our disabled son had no issues. Perfect for...More

This was our first trip to the Rocky Mountains! My husband, 3 kids (2 middle schoolers and a preschooler) and I - the littlest one hates walking. We left Denver around 6am to get to the park by 8am in hopes of getting a parking...More

We tried around noon on a Saturday to get to bear lake. After we got in the gate and headed that way, we waited in a long line of cars only to find out the rangers closed it due to no more parking. So we...More

Such a disappointment this time around. The crowds are out of control in the Estes Park area of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Not enough parking at trailheads. Not enough Shuttles for people to use to avoid adding to the traffic jams. No separate lanes...More

I went to the Bear Lake trailhead to hike to Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak, both of which are really beautiful. The huge parking lot was nearly full at 7:20, with cars streaming in. By getting an early start I beat most of the tourist...More

Bear Lake, and nearby Dream Lake and Nymph Lake are really beautiful. The trails are relatively short; there is no elevation gain on a trail surrounding Bear Lake. You have to go up, on a paved trails to see Dream and Nymph Lakes but the...More

Going around the Bear Lake is very easy, you can add a bit more challenge by continuing towards Nymph Lake and Emerald Lake. We made it to Nymph Lake before rain and thunder forced us to turn back. Scenery is amazing and there's elks and...More

Once we made our way to Bear Lake it was pretty easy to see why parking fills up so early in the morning. It's a beautiful lake with a short trail around it (perhaps 20 minutes of relatively flat hiking). Plenty of great spots for...More

If you are limited for time or energy, this is a very quick walk to Bear Lake. The view is fabulous and well worth the short walk. You can take a shuttle from one of the centers to the trail head. Many other lakes can...More

There are several trails from this area. The easiest takes you around Bear Lake. I am not near a professional photographer but I will share a few. "It's worth the hike" is heard about many trails in the area.