The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Lake Haiyaha

Lake Haiyaha is a popular destination, surrounded by large boulders and set in Chaos Canyon between Hallett and Otis Peaks. The lake can be reached either from Bear Lake Trailhead or Glacier Gorge Trailhead, but the hike from Bear Lake is a shorter distance.

Distance: 2.1 miles one-way Lake elevation: 10,220 feet Trailhead elevation: 9,475 feet Net elevation gain: 745 feet Bear Lake Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Hallett Peak and Lake Haiyaha

Major Trail Landmarks Bear Lake (Adjacent to the Bear Lake parking lot) Nymph Lake (0.5 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha Trails (1.0 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Trails from Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge Trailheads (2.0 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Lake Haiyaha Dream Lake (1.1 miles one-way from trailhead) Emerald Lake (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Emerald Lake Trail

Backcountry Campsites Near Lake Haiyaha There are no designated backcountry campsites in this area

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 southeast of the lake; follow the Emerald Lake Trail to reach Lake Haiyaha. Hike the Emerald Lake Trail past Nymph Lake toward Dream Lake. Just east of Dream Lake, take the spur trail leading southwest to reach Lake Haiyaha. This trail changes direction and grade several times before reaching a trail junction just east of Lake Haiyaha, which is the junction with the trail leading from Glacier Gorge. Head west at this junction for a short distance to reach the lakeshore. Lake Haiyaha is also accessible from Glacier Gorge Trailhead by hiking nearly 2 miles to where the trails to Mills Lake and Loch Vale split. At this point, follow the marked unimproved trail leading north to Lake Haiyaha. The hike is most often started at Bear Lake due to shorter hiking distance and more established trail.

Sample photographs of the hike to Lake Haiyaha

Looking east from the Lake Haiyaha Trail

Longs Peak from near Lake Haiyaha

Lake Haiyaha

Hallett Peak from Lake Haiyaha

Lake Haiyaha topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line. Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

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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.