Nymph, Dream and Emerald Lakes from Bear Lake

The walk starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead at the end of Bear Lake Road, reached by car or by the free Bear Lake shuttle. The trail climbs gently west to Nymph Lake, on to Dream Lake, a long, narrow lake below Hallett Peak, and up to Emerald Lake, which sits in a bowl under the cliffs of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain. Return the same way.

It is 3.4 miles (5.4 km) round trip with 650 feet (197 m) of climbing; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: a steady, gentle climb on a good trail, though the altitude makes it feel harder.

The trailhead is at 9,475 feet and Emerald Lake is above 10,000, so go slowly if you have just come up from low ground. Summer thunderstorms are common: head back if storms are building, and aim to be off the trail by early afternoon. Outside summer, expect snow or ice on the trail. From May 22 to October 18, 2026, a Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservation is needed to drive Bear Lake Road between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Over the same dates, the Bear Lake shuttle runs from the Park & Ride every 10 to 15 minutes, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.