Title: Bear Lake Trailhead in Estes Park | Expedia.co.uk

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# Bear Lake Trailhead

![Bear Lake Trailhead which includes a lake or waterhole as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/49f108cf-4130-4807-af9a-227657c41b69.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Bear Lake Trailhead which includes a lake or waterhole as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/49f108cf-4130-4807-af9a-227657c41b69.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Bear Lake Trailhead showing a lake or waterhole as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/31509a41-6782-428a-b019-f20b4a09cd4c.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Bear Lake Trailhead featuring a lake or waterhole](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/dca185d3-b862-49da-9d92-7d75e7bb652f.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Bear Lake Trailhead featuring forests as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/d1c3e953-7a7f-4672-ad71-98a131f7ddf9.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

## Visit Bear Lake Trailhead

Activities

Reviews

[Estes Park travel guide](https://expedia.co.uk/Estes-Park.dx7854)

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#### Take the whole family along to walk this manageable hiking trail, which loops around the scenic lake edge and offers ample photo opportunities.

Bear Lake Trailhead is the starting point for several scenic hiking trails of varying difficulty. Embark on a leisurely stroll along the lake’s edge, pausing for photographs along the way or tackle a more challenging route with steeper climbs.

With a well-groomed hard-packed dirt path, a gentle gradient and plenty of benches and resting spots along the route, the popular Bear Lake Loop is a great, family-friendly hike. Bring the kids along for a leisurely stroll around the lake’s shoreline. The trail is less than a mile (1.6 kilometres) long and passes along the edge of the subalpine Bear Lake, as well as through a forest where spruce, fir, lodgepole pine and aspen trees all grow. While walking along the eastern shore of the lake, try and identify the 12,710-foot-tall (3,875-metre) Hallett Peak. From the northern edge of the lake, hikers can see Half Mountain, a once-domed peak that was split by a glacier. 

Consider bringing along a picnic to enjoy by the lake’s edge. Should you still have energy to spare, continue on toward Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. At the latter, try and spot a small waterfall cascading down the steep mountainside at the far end of the lake.

For a more strenuous hike, attempt the 9-mile (14-kilometre) Flattop Mountain trail, which also begins at Bear Lake Trailhead. This arduous hike is best attempted by experienced, fit hikers, and promises spectacular vistas of jagged peaks lakes, such as Bierstadt, Sprague and Emerald and the Tyndall Glacier. As you walk, be alert for wildlife. Elk, deer and other species have all been spotted in the area.

The Bear Lake Trailhead can be crowded in peak season. Arrive early to avoid the crowds. Find the trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road. The parking lot here frequently fills up during the busy summer months so consider riding the free park shuttle to the trailhead instead. Shuttles depart regularly between late May and early October from the Park & Ride.

## Plan a trip to see Bear Lake Trailhead

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.

![Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs North Air Force Academy](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/1000000/210000/208600/208526/12b79c8a_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs North Air Force Academy

Briargate

£959

per person

15 Apr - 22 Apr

found 1 day ago

Return direct flight included

London (LHR) to Denver (DEN)

8.6/10 Excellent! (256 reviews)

Rooms are nice and clean. Staff is friendly and helpful. Dinner was delicious!

Reviewed on 27 Jan 2026

![Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs Airport](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/2000000/1700000/1696000/1695925/e2487ede_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs Airport

Southeast Colorado Springs

£1,049

per person

15 Apr - 22 Apr

found 1 day ago

Return direct flight included

London (LHR) to Denver (DEN)

8.8/10 Excellent! (896 reviews)

Staff was great. Room lacked caffeinated coffee and toilet malfunctioned. Price is high.

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

![Garden of the Gods Resort and Club](https://images.trvl-media.com/lodging/1000000/910000/909800/909713/bf3121bd_y.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

### Garden of the Gods Resort and Club

West Colorado Springs

£1,728

per person

15 Apr - 22 Apr

found 1 day ago

Return direct flight included

London (LHR) to Denver (DEN)

9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,002 reviews)

Great staff, gorgeous view, highly recommend. Will be back!

Reviewed on 1 Feb 2026

## Reviews of Bear Lake Trailhead

4.7

Top destination

5 - Excellent

2

4 - Good

1

3 - Okay

0

2 - Disappointing

0

1 - Terrible

0

### 5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Used park and ride as busy , nice easy walk around a very pretty view

### Popular places to visit

![Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/6290693/960cf65f-57f9-4ded-9fd4-0dca68b535a6.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Bear Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Bear Lake during your travels in Estes Park. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the area's mountain views. 

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Bear-Lake-Estes-Park.d903044032966463488.Attraction)

![Colorado featuring a pond](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635919603140/a9739c69-919b-480a-bbdc-232deca3f022.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Nymph Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Nymph Lake during your travels in Estes Park. Wander the scenic parks and lakeside in the area. 

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Nymph-Lake-Estes-Park.d553248635919603140.Attraction)

![Estes Park showing hiking or walking and forest scenes as well as a small group of people](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248621532646743/e49034b1-a335-4385-81e2-9a5cd6339200.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Alberta Falls

Explore the great outdoors at Alberta Falls and enjoy the mountain views during your trip to Estes Park. Wander the lakeside and scenic parks in the area. 

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Alberta-Falls-Estes-Park.d553248635851216634.Attraction)

![Dream Lake](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635837552033/286b7663-f95f-46e9-a214-eebd3cd20e13.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Dream Lake

Dramatic peaks rise like wallpaper around this scenic lake, which is among the highlights from a flurry of water features along Bear Lake Trail.

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Dream-Lake-Estes-Park.d553248635837552033.Attraction)

![Emerald Lake](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635823409681/37f9fb94-0946-4b0b-bf9a-cb60294e1a7d.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### Emerald Lake

A jewel in the nature trails of this rocky park, this lake and its lily pads are dwarfed by the immense rocky behemoths around it.

[](https://expedia.co.uk/Emerald-Lake-Estes-Park.d553248635823409681.Attraction)

![The Loch](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/553248635921432202/2e727cb4-2e5b-4e21-b76c-aa91f98c03ed.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=900&h=506&q=mediumHigh)

#### The Loch

With a name suggesting it is worthy of a place in the stunning Scottish Highlands, this lake in the Rocky Mountains doesn’t disappoint.

[](https://expedia.co.uk/The-Loch-Estes-Park.d553248635921432202.Attraction)

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