Lake Haiyaha

Difficulty
This reflects the 10Adventures difficulty rating for each route. We aim to keep ratings consistent across regions.
Moderate
Duration
This reflects the estimated time the majority of users will take on this trail. If you are slower, add time to the top-end figure. If you are fast, then you may complete this route faster than this time range.
1.5-2.5h
Distance
This reflects the return distance of this route as measured by the GPS file.
6.0 km
Elevation
This reflects the total elevation gained throughout this route as measured by the GPS file. This includes all ascents and descents, and is higher than what is quoted in most route guides, which simply measure the distance between the starting-point and high-point of the route.
243 m
User Ratings
These ratings are completed by users who have completed this trail and not subject to reviews by 10Adventures.
Overall Rating
This is the average user-submitted overall rating on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
9.7
Physical Difficulty
This is the average user-submitted rating on the physical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
Easy (Circle)
Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
Technical Difficulty
This is the average user-submitted rating on the technical difficulty of this route. In general, green is beginner, blue is intermediate, black is advanced/most difficult and double-black is expert-only. It is recommended that users build up to black and double-black routes.
Easy (Circle)
Suitable for beginners, families, young children, and those looking for a casual adventure.
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Directions to Trailhead
Panorama on Lake Haiyaha hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The hike to Lake Haiyaha is a classic trail which offers you breathtaking rewards in exchange for your hard effort. Lake Haiyaha is quite a steep trail but well worth the amazing alpine lake nestled into a panoramic mountain cirque!

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Route Description for Lake Haiyaha

Lake Haiyaha, Colorado is an epic hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. From the Bear Lake trailhead, hang a left, following the well-marked signs towards Nymph Lake. Once you arrive at Nymph Lake, about a half-mile from the trailhead, you’ll be able to see the top of Hallett Peak which is also the direction towards Dream Lake and Emerald Lake. The trail to lake Haiyaha hugs the right shore of the lake before climbing up in elevation as the trail traverses along the steep mountainside.

After hiking for about a 1.6 km, the trail will split. Follow the sign with directions to Lake Haiyaha at the foot of Dream Lake. The trail climbs steeply up the north aspect of the mountain slope. This section of steep trail is not well defined and is more of a ‘social’ trail finding the path of least resistance.

Eventually, the ‘social’ trails will reconvene into a single well-defined trail that traverses around the slope above a small cliff band. As you wrap around the mountain, Longs Peak will become visible off in the distance.

Once on the south-facing side of the mountain, you have been wrapping around, you will encounter a snowfield with a steep drop off. You can either follow the tracks through the snowfield or you can follow an alternative track that heads straight up the mountainside, avoiding the snowfield all together. Both paths reconnect and continue towards Lake Haiyaha. You will know you are getting close when the trail opens up to a boulder field where you will navigate to the beginning of Lake Haiyaha. The mountains that create the backdrop are the beginnings of Chaos Creek.

As you reach Haiyaha Lake, you will notice that the shoreline is quite rugged. There are huge boulders circling the whole lake - with an obvious reward in the middle of Chaos Canyon. The view of Lake Haiyaha and the surrounding mountain peaks is simply breathtaking. The two peaks that stand out from all the other ones are the Otis Peak (3,806 m)  on your left and the Hallet Peak (3,875 m) on your right. In between the two magnificent mountains is the Chaos Canyon. It's truly an amazing sight.

For those who would like to make the trail longer, you can return for ( m) to a junction with the Glacier Gorge trail and hike an extra (1.6 km) to the Glacier Knobs and from there you can follow a trail to The Loch, which is a beautiful mountain tarn situated in a peaceful corner of the Rocky Mountain National Park. A perfect place to enjoy the wilderness on your own.

To get back to the Bear Lake trailhead, return the way you came by retracing your steps.

Want to find more amazing hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park? Check out Chasm Lake hike or the Sky Pond and Lake of Glass hike.

Insider Hints for Lake Haiyaha

  • The Lake Haiyaha hike can be connected into a larger loop connecting Dream Lake with the Glacier Gorge Trail towards The Loch.

Getting to the Lake Haiyaha Trailhead

From Estes Park, take highway 36 west and enter RMNP at the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Just after the pay station, turn left on Bear Lake Road. Follow the road for about 16.1 km until it ends at the Bear Lake Trailhead.

Route Information

  • When to do

    April to November

  • Backcountry Campsites

    Camping is allowed in the backcountry, permits are required and can be obtained at the NP Visitors Center.

  • Toilets

    Yes, primitive pit toilet

  • Pets allowed

    Yes - On Leash

  • Family friendly

    Older Children only

  • Route Signage

    Good

  • Crowd Levels

    Low

  • Route Type

    Out and back

Lake Haiyaha Elevation Graph

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Lake Haiyaha Reviews

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