Jan 28

Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

Welcome to Travel Tuesday! When people hear about my road trip and the 22 national parks I visited, the next question always tends to be, “Which one is your favorite park/hike?” It’s a hard question to answer, but…the Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park has to be one of my favorites.

Check out the #EmeraldLakeTrail in @RockyNPS! #FindYourPark #hiking #visitcolorado @NatlParkService

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(When I sent a photo of Emerald Lake to my program director in residency, she actually saved it as her phone background! :O )

Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park

This hike is suuuuper super popular, so I’d definitely suggest utilizing the free park shuttles to get to the trailhead! They run from 7am to 7pm and will make your parking life a whole lot easier.

The trailhead is located a little past the Bear Lake Loop trailhead (instead of going right, you go left!). The first half-mile or so is paved because this is such a heavily trafficked hike.

Distance: ~3.6 miles (out + back)
Elevation: 708 feet
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Admission: $25 (1-day pass for RMNP, or free if you have the annual pass!)
Parking: Lot available + included in fee, but fills up quickly!
Trailhead Address: 40.3117700, -105.6453300

The first lake you’ll come across in about 0.5 miles is Nymph Lake! It has pond lilies all around.

Nymph Lake

Lots of incline! :P

There will be a junction where you’ll want to turn right, and shortly thereafter, you’ll make it to Dream Lake (about 1.1 miles into the trail)!

Dream Lake

We saw a golden-mantled ground squirrel who didn’t mind getting up kinda close to us! (We didn’t feed it. You shouldn’t either.)

After Dream Lake, the trail continues to climb up through the forest before you make it to Emerald Lake. (This is the steepest part of the trail!)

Emerald Lake is breathtakingly beautiful–the water looks unreal, and you get a beautiful view of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Do keep in mind that if you suffer from altitude sickness, Emerald Lake sits at ~10,110 feet above sea level!

Although I tend to prefer hikes that don’t have a ton of people, this is definitely beautiful enough that I didn’t mind it. We went here in July, so no snowshoes or spikes were needed, but keep that in mind + talk to the park rangers if you go in the winter!

P.S. Pets aren’t allowed on this trail! :[

If you've never hiked the Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park, you're definitely missing out! Come find out more about the hike here! #emeraldlake #rockymountainnationalpark #rockymountains #nationalparks #findyourpark

  • Have you ever been to Rocky Mountain National Park?
  • Do you have a favorite national park?
  • What’s one of your favorite hikes?

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56 comments

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  1. Great information! And looks beautiful.

    1. Thanks for stopping by! :]

  2. I loveeee hiking and this trail looks amazing! thanks for all the info and pretty photos!

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you get to go sometime–it’s such a gorgeous hike! :]
      Farrah recently posted…Emerald Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National ParkMy Profile

  3. I almost confused this for the Emerald Lake in Alberta Canada. They looked so similar!!! HAHA

    1. Ahh, I’ve never been there but would so love to go someday–the photos are beautiful! *-*

  4. Seriously, I love the national parks in America! I’ve never even heard of this park! Thank you for sharing, I’m going to have to plan a trip!

    1. I hope you get to go sometime! It’s so pretty there! I can’t wait to go back!

  5. What a stunning location! I have not seen any of the National Parks but would love to!

    1. I hope you get to go sometime! :] I’d love to visit them all someday!

  6. Incredible views! We haven’t been to Rocky National Park yet but would love to visit. That’s too bad dogs aren’t allowed since we like to take our dog on road trips with us.

    1. I’d love to adopt a dog someday and want to take him/her on trips too! I’m gonna have to look into more dog-friendly places then!

  7. Squirrels are one of my favorite animals so I love that up close and personal photo of that little guy!

    1. hehehe, he was so cute!! I didn’t expect him to come up so close!

  8. It looks so beautiful there!! I would love to visit there some day, adding it to my travel bucket list!!!

    1. Yay! I hope you get to go sometime! :]!!

  9. What a beautiful trail. And that squirrel! So cute Love seeing all of your travels.
    Sandra Laflamme recently posted…New word (s). Say Yes! It’s 2020My Profile

    1. Thank you! It was definitely one of my favorites (and that squirrel visit was so cute <3!)! :]

  10. That’s not to far from my home in Alberta! Looks amazing.. haven’t been there in a few years but would love to get back after seeing all these pictures!

    1. I hope you get to go sometime! :]!

  11. So gorgeous! I love Rocky Mountain! My in-laws live in Colorado so we hike there a lot. I’ve been to Rocky Mountain a couple times. Last time we did the Bear Lake Loop and it’s funny you have a picture of the ground squirrel :P I remember they get sooo close, almost begging for food! We didn’t feed it either. Makes you think about how many people do, though!

    1. That’s so cool! I’d definitely love to go back someday! (Hopefully sooner rather than later. :] ) There’s so much to explore there!

      Definitely–they have no fear!!

  12. How cute is that squirrel! Would love to visit that national park someday. Amazing views. There is so much more to see when I’m able to travel again. I have to settle for the domestic trips for now. We certainly don’t have mountains like that in Finland.
    Jenni / Out in the Nature recently posted…Nature encounters at Bergvik nature trail in SaloMy Profile

    1. I’m with you there! Definitely not the best of times to travel right now so I’ve been trying to find more local places to explore!

    • Denise on October 24, 2020 at 5:44 pm
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    I need to do more trips in nature! I’m adding this to my bucket list, beautiful photos!

    1. Thank you! I’m hoping to go back there someday — I wanna check out more hikes! :]

  14. I’ve been to RMNP so many times…how have I never been to Emerald Lake!?? It looks beautiful, I’ll have to put it on the list for next time!

    1. Ooo, definitely a good reason to go back sometime! :]!!

  15. Oh my gosh this lake looks gorgeous!! I’ve only been to Rocky Mountain NP once and I’ll definitely have to go back. Good to know about the shuttle!!
    Melissa recently posted…Fern Canyon: A complete guide to finding the Lost WorldMy Profile

    1. Finding parking can be hard especially if you go later in the day so the shuttle definitely made life easier!

    • Shay on October 24, 2020 at 7:08 pm
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    You have so many beautiful photos here. And that squirrel is too cute! Would love to visit Emerald Lake it looks lovely.

    1. Thank you! :] It was such a pretty hike!

  17. What a beautiful hike! And that squirrel, how cute is that. We don’t have them in New Zealand, and our girls always get so excited when we see them other places.

    1. hehehe, totally understandable — I’d be the same way. They’re so cute!

  18. Aww look at the little squirrel. So cute. Love these curious little guys when I’m hiking. Gorgeous view here, but I’m like you, I prefer less people on my hikes. Still, I’m always hair to do the odd hike that’s a little more popular. I mean, they’re popular for a reason right?!

    1. hehehe, it was so cute!

      Agreed! My preference is definitely the less populated hikes but I do end up doing some popular ones just because they gotta be super popular for a reason! :P

  19. Wow!!!! Looks so beautiful. Your pics are stunning! I’m assuming this is in Colorado? We’ve really been getting into hiking recently. This would be an amazing one to take! Thanks!

    1. Thanks so much! :] This was in Colorado — I hope you get to go sometime! It’s super pretty! <3

  20. We have been eyeing Colorado as a dream winter vacation destination. The views are sooo beautiful that we would venture out on a hike to get the full experience. Thanks for the wonderful blog.

    1. Ooo, it’d be so cool to see this in the winter. I hope you get to go sometime!! :]

    • Vanessa Shields on October 26, 2020 at 2:33 am
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    Wow, Emerald Lake is stunning! I would definitely want to hike there even like you mention there a lot of people. Great tips especially noting the high altitude which is something I battle with. Adding to my list of hikes I’d like to tackle!

    1. hehe, I generally prefer hikes with less people but I still put this as one of my favorite hikes–it was so beautiful! <3

  22. This lake looks stunning! It would be a perfect day trip when you needed a little break and reconnect with nature. I hope I could visit this in the future so I will pin this.

    1. Yay! I hope you get to go sometime–it’s an absolutely gorgeous hike! :]

    • Holly on October 26, 2020 at 4:57 am
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    This looks amazing! And squirrels! I get so excited when I see squirrels because they remind me of being a kid in the UK!

    1. hehe, they were so cute! (And so, so unafraid of people. I think too many people feed them! x_x)

    • Nina Clapperton on October 26, 2020 at 2:42 pm
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    This trail looks incredible! I’ve always heard about Emerald Lake but didn’t know how to get there. Saving this for later.

    1. Ooo, I hope you get to go sometime! It’s such a beautiful hike!

  25. Squeeee I had a feeling this would be gorgeous as soon as I saw the name – glacial lakes are always beautiful, but anywhere that is called emerald lake is always going to be lovely! Rocky Mountain national Park looks like a dreamland for hikers!

    How were the bugs? It is such a pretty area that i sort of expect that I’ll get bitten to enjoy it!
    Josy A recently posted…Fairview Mountain – Lake LouiseMy Profile

    1. Agreeeee. This is one of my favorite hikes so far — I’d love to go back every season, haha. I actually didn’t get bitten by any bugs when I went (late July)!! I was amazed but very happy, haha. :]

  26. I love hiking and this trail looks amazing. Also love your pictures. Thanks for all the information!!

    1. Thank you! It was such a beautiful trail! :]
      Farrah recently posted…Ultimate Coffee Date: August 2022My Profile

  27. I love hiking and this trail looks like something I’d enjoy – thanks for the helpful info!

    1. This is one of my favorite hikes! <3 Hope you get to go sometime!

    • Mike on July 5, 2024 at 6:07 pm
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    I first went to Emerald Lake in Estes Park, Colorado in 1991. Emerald Lake, and Estes Park was more beautiful then than it is now! There was still the glacier on the mountain in 1991 over looking Emerald Lake. It is gone now in 2024! The last time I was there was a few years back in 2016. In 2016 the water looks more green with algae and the lakes water is not as crystal clear as it was in 1991. You could see all the way to the bottom in 1991. There is more foot traffic along the trails in 2016. It’s like a highway with hundreds of People coming and going. Back in 1991 there weren’t as many people and trash littering this beautiful place. It is still beautiful but it’s not what it used to be like . It’s lost its majesty! Sad how people messsss everything up with their garbage!🤮

    1. Oh, I’m sure there are tons of places were way more beautiful before they got ruined by people. :[ I’m sad that I didn’t get into this until the latter part of my 20’s — would’ve loved so see things before. I wish people could be less selfish + would take care of this planet more!
      Farrah recently posted…My Month Is Booked: August 2024My Profile

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