Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Bierstadt Lake

Bierstadt Lake lies on a large moraine near Bear Lake Road on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park.
The popular trail to the lake leads up numerous switchbacks along the south side of the moraine. The lake
is also accessible from Bear Lake, via a trail that branches off of the Flattop Mountain Trail.
Distance: 1.4 miles one-way

Lake elevation: 9,416 feet

Trailhead elevation: 8,860 feet

Net elevation gain: 556 feet

Bierstadt Lake Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Bierstadt Lake
The red star in the map above shows the relative location of Bierstadt Lake to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)
Major Trail Landmarks
Junction of Bierstadt Lake loop trail (1.2 miles one-way from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Bierstadt Lake
Mill Creek Basin (0.9 miles one-way from west end of Bierstadt Lake)
Bear Lake (2.0 miles one-way from west end of Bierstadt Lake)
Backcountry Campsites Near Bierstadt Lake
No campsites exist on the trail to Bierstadt Lake, approaching either from Bear Lake
or from Bierstadt Lake Trailhead.
The Bierstadt Lake Trailhead starts along Bear Lake Road east of Bear Lake. From the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on U.S. Highway 36, head west about 0.2 miles and turn south on Bear Lake Road (toward Moraine Park). Follow Bear Lake Road about 6.5 miles to the small parking area along the north side of the road. These trails are also accessible by the seasonal Bear Lake shuttle service when applicable.

The trail to Bierstadt Lake climbs north from Bear Lake Road, utilizing switchbacks to gain elevation up Bierstadt Moraine. At the top of the moraine, the trail splits and forms a loop around the lakeshore, with access to the lake through many small side trails. To reach Bierstadt Lake from Bear Lake, follow the Flattop Mountain Trail for 0.4 miles, then branch off on a marked side trail for 1.6 miles to Bierstadt Lake.
Sample photographs of the hike to Bierstadt Lake
Bierstadt Lake Trail
Trail along Bierstadt Moraine
Thatchtop from Bierstadt Lake
Bierstadt Lake and the Continental Divide
Bierstadt Lake topographic map
Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail/route marked by dashed red line.
Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

USGS Quad Map: Longs Peak - Latitude: 40.327 deg. N - Longitude: 105.625 deg. W
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Bierstadt Lake (Gallery Photo)
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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws.
Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.