Bear Lake South Trail

Route Description for Bear Lake South Trail

The Bear Lake South Trail is an easy, well-maintained trail in the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). This extremely popular destination is often quite crowded, so if you hope to avoid the crowds consider an early morning weekday excursion. We don’t blame you if you don’t feel like waking up early, but we urge you to consider taking the RMNP free shuttle to avoid the annoyance of trying to find a parking spot in the packed lot. Remember, park passes are required to access the trails.

Embark on your nature adventure from the Bear Lake Trailhead. From here, track right along the Bear Lake Trail. Hike along the shoreline, keeping an eye out for Tiger Salamanders swimming in the waters. Follow this path to the intersection with Bierstadt Trail, and turn around. Retrace your steps along the path back to the trailhead, reveling in the views of Longs Peak.

Once you return to the trailhead, continue hiking northwest along the Bear Lake Trail. Adventure this route until the terrain becomes increasingly steep, which is your turnaround point. From here, retrace your footing along the path back to the trailhead, marking the end of your adventure.