Rocky Mountain Lake Trail

Route Description for Rocky Mountain Lake Trail

The Rocky Mountain Lake Trail is undeniably panoramic. Traverse the alpine terrain past several lakes in the mountain cirque. This incredibly scenic excursion demands stamina and preparation! Check the weather forecast as you will be hiking at a high elevation where afternoon storms are common. Wear layers and consider microspikes in the autumn and winter months to help navigate the likely icy and snowy terrain. Pack plenty of water and provisions to stay fueled along this adventure. Note the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) requires visitors to purchase a pass.

Begin your adventure from the Nymph Lake Trailhead near Bear Lake and hike up to Nymph Lake. From here, track west up to Dream Lake. Revel in the lake's beautiful scenery and hike the shoreline to Emerald Lake. Enjoy the mountainous vista and retrace your steps back to Dream Lake. At the intersection, stay right and you will be diverted onto the Haiyaha Lake Trail up to the lake. From the lake, track the rightmost Haiyaha Cutoff Trail. At the next junction, turn right and ascend the path to Loch Lake, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond.

When you meet the trail’s end at Sky Pond, retrace your steps back to the junction and take a sharp right up the Glacier Gorge Trail to Mills Lake and Jewel Lake. Turn around Jewel Lake and retrace your steps along the Glacier Gorge Trail past Alberta Falls. At the Chaos Creek intersection, stay straight on the Connector Trail back to the Nymph Lake Trailhead.