Rocky Mountain National Park - Glacier Gorge/Bear Lake Loop - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Rocky Mountain National Park - Glacier Gorge/Bear Lake Loop |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Colorado |
| Nearby Town: | Estes Park |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Enter Rocky Mountain National Park through Beaver Meadow Entrance. Take first left down Bear Lake Road. Near end of the road you will find a small parking area at Glacier Gorge Trailhead. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 5.39 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy to Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Glacier Gorge Trailhead |
| Trails Used: | Glacier Gorge, Lake Haiyaha, Emerald Lake |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Streams, Lakes |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Rocky Mountain National Park 1000 Highway 36 Estes Park, CO 80517 970.586.1206 http://www.nps.gov/romo/index.html |
| Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | One of the better day hikes I've done (08/01/02). Unfortunately, a day hike was all I was able to do on my way from Alaska to Louisiana in just under two weeks. The Glacier Gorge and Emerald Lake trails are heavily used, but the Lake Haiyaha trail connecting the two is not. All trails are well marked. Moderate ascent up the Glacier Gorge trail with Alberta Falls halfway up. Good sightlines and decent sized falls. The trail will split into 3 and you'll need to take the right-most fork toward Lake Haiyaha. The trail will fork again and the spur to the lake is the lefthand one. You'll have to scramble over some house sized boulders to get to the lake, but it is well worth it! The lake was formed by a glacier and that's also where all the boulders came from. The lake is still, isolated, and cold. Go back to the beginning of the spur and go toward Dream, Bear, and Nymph lakes. Once at the Bear Lake trailhead, follow the road back up to the Glacier Gorge trailhead. |
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