Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Dream Lake

This very popular short hike offers scenic views and a closeup view of the Continental Divide.
Distance: 1.1 miles one-way

Lake elevation: 9,900 feet

Trailhead elevation: 9,475 feet

Net elevation gain: 425 feet

Bear Lake Trailhead

Rocky Mountain National Park
Hallett Peak from Dream Lake
The red star in the map above shows the relative location of Dream Lake to RMNP boundaries (in green) and major roads (in gold)
Major Trail Landmarks
Bear Lake (just west of Bear Lake parking lot)
Nymph Lake (0.5 miles one-way from trailhead)
Junction of trail to Lake Haiyaha (1.1 miles one-way from trailhead - just east of Dream Lake)
Principal Destinations Near Dream Lake
Emerald Lake (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail
Lake Haiyaha (2.1 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Lake Haiyaha Trail
Backcountry Campsites near Dream Lake
No campsites exist on or near the trail to Dream Lake
The Bear Lake Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide. 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 a little over 9 miles to the large parking area where Bear
Lake Road ends. Bear Lake is just west of the parking lot. The Emerald Lake trail begins just southeast
of the lake; the Flattop Mountain trail begins on the east side of the lake.

From Bear Lake, follow the Emerald Lake Trail south from the lake, then west to Nymph Lake. Continue around Nymph Lake and on to Dream Lake, just past the junction with the Lake Haiyaha Trail.
Sample photographs of the hike to Dream Lake
Looking south from the trail
Dream Lake
Hallett Peak and Dream Lake
Flattop Mountain in winter
Dream 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: McHenrys Peak - Latitude: 40.309 deg. N - Longitude: 105.659 deg. W
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Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.