Rocky Mountain National Park

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 10 lakes

9 mi · ▲ 2,002 ft · 4 hr

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 10 lakes is a 9-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route passes Bierstadt Lake, Bear Lake, Nymph Lake and 2 more before reaching Emerald Lake at the turnaround, 4.5 miles in. It climbs 2,002 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 11/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi8,632 – 10,128 ft · steepest grade: 25%9.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Park & Ride Trailhead 40.32894, -105.60232
Nearest town Beaver Point, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Emerald Lake–Dream Lake, 10 lakes

9 mi · ▲ 2,002 ft · 4 hr

Elevation 8,631–10,129 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Park & Ride Trailhead · 40.32894, -105.60232

Weather Sep 5: Overcast, high 75°F / low 58° · precip 5% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 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

  1. Start on Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading SW.
  2. 1.3 miPass Bierstadt Lake.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.4 miBear right onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading SW.
  5. 1.5 miPass Bear Lake.
  6. 250 ftBear right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading S.
  7. 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
  8. 0.2 miPass Nymph Lake.
  9. 150 ftBear left onto Emerald Lake Trail, heading SW.
  10. 200 ftPass Emerald Lake Viewpoint.
  11. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  12. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  13. 0.2 miPass Dream Lake.
  14. 0.7 miReach Emerald Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.9 miBear right, heading E.
  16. 350 ftBear right, heading E.
  17. 0.3 miTurn right onto Bear Lake Trail, heading NE.
  18. 450 ftBear left onto Bear Lake-Bierstadt Trail, heading E.
  19. 1.6 miBear left onto Bierstadt Lake Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.4 miTurn left onto Bierstadt Moraine Trail, heading NE.
  21. 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 75°F58°
Precip5%Wind7 mphUV7Humidity33%
Rained 0.1″ 6 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°55°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sun 73°52° 26%
Mon 71°53° 16%
Tue 75°49° 18%
Wed 77°53° 34%
Thu 72°53° 32%
Fri 75°49° 26%

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

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