Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Bluebird Lake

Bluebird Lake, a former reservoir, is in the southeast portion of Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake is in a rocky
cirque at the foot of dramatic Ouzel Peak, between Mahana Peak to the north and Copeland Mountain to the south.
Distance: 6.2 miles one-way

Lake elevation: 10,978 feet

Trailhead elevation: 8,500 feet

Net elevation gain: 2,478 feet

Wild Basin Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Ouzel Peak and Bluebird Lake
The red star in the map above shows the relative location of Bluebird Lake to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)
Major Trail Landmarks
Copeland Falls (0.3 miles one-way from trailhead)
Calypso Cascades (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead)
Ouzel Falls (2.7 miles one-way from trailhead)
Junction of Thunder Lake and Bluebird Trails (3.1 miles one-way from trailhead)
Junction of Bluebird Lake and Ouzel Lake Trails (4.6 miles one-way from trailhead)
Principal Destinations Near Bluebird Lake
Thunder Lake (6.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Thunder Lake Trail
Ouzel Lake (4.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - via spur trail from Bluebird Lake Trail
Lark Pond (6.6 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Bluebird Lake
Pipit Lake (6.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Bluebird Lake
Junco Lake (6.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - via off-trail route past Bluebird Lake
Backcountry Campsites Near Bluebird Lake
Ouzel Lake [PDF Link] - (4.9 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,020' - 1 individual site
Upper Ouzel Creek [PDF Link] - (6.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - elevation 10,600' - 1 individual site
Wild Basin Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide between Meeker Park and
Allenspark. Turn west on to Wild Basin Road from Colorado Highway 7, at a junction about 13 miles
south of Estes Park. Continue west to the Copeland Lake area, roughly one-half mile from Highway 7.
The Wild Basin trailhead is about 2 miles beyond Copeland Lake on a narrow gravel road. The trailhead
begins on the south end of the parking area at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. Access to this parking
area may be limited during seasons when snowfall is still present.

The Thunder Lake Trail leads past Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls before reaching a
junction with a trail to Bluebird Lake. At this junction, take the left-hand trail as it initially leads south up a
steep section of trail toward Bluebird Lake. After hiking through a fire-damaged area along a moraine,
the Bluebird Lake Trail intersects a spur trail leading toward Ouzel Lake. Bypass the spur trail, and
continue straight as the trail heads west through steeper, rockier terrain to Bluebird Lake.
Sample photographs of the hike to Bluebird Lake
Bluebird Lake Trail
Trail just east of Bluebird Lake
View of Mount Meeker from the trail
Bluebird Lake
Bluebird 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: Isolation Peak - Latitude: 40.191 deg. N - Longitude: 105.654 deg. W
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LINK TO A PHOTO TRIP REPORT TO WILD BASIN
Bluebird 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.