Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor's Guide

Bear Lake Road

Longs Peak at Sunrise
Icy Bear Lake
Snow Tracks

Bear Lake Road runs between Upper Beaver Meadows and Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the way you will pass hiking trails, picnic areas, campgrounds, the Moraine Park Museum and Sprague Lake.

There is a large picnic area at Sprague Lake (elevation 8710 feet), portable rest rooms, a stable, and a wheelchair-rated trail around the lake. The view to the west from just around the curve of the trail is fabulous.

The road ends in the Bear Lake parking lot. Park your car and walk the few yards to the famous lake. There are rest rooms a few yards from the parking lot for summer visitors.

Several popular trails begin at Bear Lake. Some are short and moderate hiking for families with younger children, while others are more strenuous. The trail circling the lake is easy, and photographic opportunities abound around the clear, smooth waters of the beautiful lake.

At an altitude of 9475 feet, Bear Lake freezes in the winter. Cross country skiers take advantage of the snow-covered lake and trails. Tubers hike across the lake and up the mountainside for a fast descent back down and across the lake.

Traffic can be heavy during the summer months and parking may be difficult to find. There is a shuttle parking lot on the Bear Lake Road where you can park, and take the shuttle bus to and from the lake. The shuttle runs during the summer months only.

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