AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Mountain National Park

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 12 sights

14.3 mi · ▲ 3,134 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 12 sights is a 14.3-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Dorsey Lake, Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and 2 more before reaching Emerald Lake at the turnaround, 7.1 miles in. It climbs 3,134 ft, with sections as steep as 21% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 14/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7,842 – 10,128 ft · steepest grade: 21%15.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: B4 40.34131, -105.56756
Nearest town Beaver Point, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 12 sights

14.3 mi · ▲ 3,134 ft · 6 hr 20 min

Elevation 7,840–10,129 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: B4 · 40.34131, -105.56756

Weather Sep 5: Drizzle, high 79°F / low 60° · precip 4% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Glacier Gorge stop 137 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Dorsey Lake Trail, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftPass Dorsey Lake.
  3. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wind River North, heading N.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto River Camp Trail, heading N.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Wind River North, heading N.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Boone Family Mountain Center Trail, heading N.
  8. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  9. 150 ftContinue straight onto Mountain Center Connector, heading NW.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Trail (GCT), heading SW.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miBear right onto Friendship Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Glacier Creek Trail (GCT), heading W.
  15. 150 ftContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading SW.
  16. 300 ftBear right, heading W.
  17. 0.1 miTurn left onto Tuxedo Park Trail, heading W.
  18. 450 ftSharp left, heading W.
  19. 1.5 miContinue straight onto Hollowell Park Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.7 miTurn left onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading W.
  21. 0.9 miTurn right, heading W.
  22. 450 ftBear left, heading S.
  23. 0.2 miBear left onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading SW.
  26. 0.9 miPass Bear Lake.
  27. 450 ftBear right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading SW.
  28. 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  29. 0.2 miPass Nymph Lake.
  30. 350 ftPass Emerald Lake Viewpoint.
  31. 50 ftBear left onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading S.
  32. 250 ftSharp right, heading S.
  33. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  34. 0.2 miPass Dream Lake.
  35. 0.7 miReach Emerald Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  36. 0.9 miBear right, heading E.
  37. 350 ftBear right, heading NE.
  38. 0.3 miTurn right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading E.
  39. 500 ftBear left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading E.
  40. 1 miTurn right onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading NE.
  41. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NE.
  42. 100 ftBear right onto Mill Creek Basin Trail, heading NE.
  43. 0.2 miBear left, heading NW.
  44. 1 miTurn right onto Hollowell Park Trail, heading W.
  45. 2.3 miSharp right, heading E.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Tuxedo Park Trail, heading E.
  47. 450 ftTurn right onto Tuxedo Park YMCA Camp Trail, heading E.
  48. 0.1 miBear left onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading NE.
  49. 300 ftContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Trail (GCT), heading NE.
  50. 150 ftBear right onto Friendship Trail, heading NE.
  51. 50 ftBear left onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading NE.
  52. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Trail (GCT), heading E.
  53. 100 ftContinue straight onto Glacier Creek Stock Trail, heading E.
  54. 0.3 miTurn right onto Mountain Center Connector, heading E.
  55. 0.2 miBear left onto Boone Family Mountain Center Trail, heading S.
  56. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Wind River North, heading SW.
  57. 150 ftContinue straight onto River Camp Trail, heading SW.
  58. 50 ftTurn right onto Wind River North, heading SW.
  59. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  60. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dorsey Lake Trail, heading SW.
  61. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/bear-lake-dorsey-lake-out-back-11-sights

Trail surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 79°F60°
Precip4%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity30%
Hourly temperature
80°60°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sun 78°52° 26%
Mon 76°57° 16%
Tue 79°52° 19%
Wed 81°55° 34%
Thu 75°57° 32%
Fri 80°52° 26%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Glacier Gorge stop 137 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from B4 Trailhead

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