Blue Lake–Bear Lake, 9 sights
15.7 mi · ▲ 3,520 ft · 7 hr
Blue Lake–Bear Lake, 9 sights is a 15.7-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Bierstadt Lake and Bear Lake before reaching Blue Lake at the turnaround, 7.9 miles in. It climbs 3,520 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 33/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Blue Lake–Bear Lake, 9 sights
15.7 mi · ▲ 3,520 ft · 7 hr
Elevation 8,631–11,205 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: Park & Ride Trailhead · 40.32894, -105.60232
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: stop 84 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miPass Bierstadt Lake.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading SW.
- 1.5 miPass Bear Lake.
- 250 ftBear right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Fire Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading S.
- 3 miTurn left, heading E.
- 0.2 miReach Blue Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Black Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 3 miTurn left onto Fire Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Bear Lake / Glacier Gorge Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Bear Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading N.
- 1.6 miBear left onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: stop 84 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Park & Ride Trailhead Trailhead
- Sprague Lake & Bierstadt Moraine Trail 3.8 mi · ▲ 396 ft
- Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 10 lakes 9 mi · ▲ 2,002 ft
- Sky Pond Viewpoint–The Loch, 10 sights 10.8 mi · ▲ 2,514 ft
- Lake Helene–Ptarmigan Tarn, 8 lakes 11.6 mi · ▲ 2,527 ft
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