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    Gem Lake Trail

    4.8 (25 reviews)

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    Ashlyn R.

    Super steep incline for most of hike. Lots of stairs, but so worth it once at the top. Amazing views. We took our 5 month old up.

    Amber B.

    One of my new favorite trails in RMNP - outside the main gates with generous parking. Gem Lake Trail is full of mountain views, lots of rocks for bouldering or stopping along the way for a picnic, and plenty of incline towards the end to get your heart rate up. I could stay at the lake and just lounge for hours, however, it was quite windy on the day we arrived. I'm so glad I discovered this trail - it'll be one we hit up again!

    Jackie M.

    Loved this hike! Easy to get to from the Stanley hotel. There were signs that you needed timed entry but no one checked. Parking lot still had plenty of spots at 9am on a Tuesday in August. We did a little loop of lumpy ridge before climbing up to Gem Lake. I am really glad I had trekking poles so I could hoist myself on some of the steps. Lake at the top is gorgeous and we sat and had a snack (tooks a chocolate cherry cookie from Colorado Cherry company up with us!). There are a bunch of chipmunks that try to steal your food. Idiots were feeding the chipmunks while we were up there so that's why they are so crazy. We hit the bathroom before heading down. No TP, no hand sanitizer so I skipped it. The hike down was still challenging and I really depended on my poles to do the steps. Ended up being around 4 miles with the little loop addition. Felt good! Would recommend to avoid a ton of crowds.

    Jacqueline T.

    This trial is located outside of the main entrances of Rocky Mountain National Park, but is still part of the park. It's really close to Estes Park. It's only about 3.5 miles round trip and it's a pretty easy hike for the area. It's an out back trail and is uphill the whole way out, but it's not that steep. It's very manageable overall. There are great mountain views the whole way up. Gem Lake itself is pretty small, but it's still pretty. This is a great introductory hike before building up to some of the bigger hikes in the park.

    Gem lake
    Prathamesh B.

    Let me start by saying this is a difficult hike, especially for people who have trouble breathing on higher altitudes or have knee issues. There are a lot of steps and the last 1/4th of hike is brutal. However the hike itself is worth it., has beautiful views of nature, the city and the small lake the top. What I loved about the hike- 1. View: amazing views and was fully green with chipmunks all over the place. Good to take pictures. 2. Difficulty: The hike is a bit of a challenge and so for me it was fun. It's not really that bad, just that I have trouble breathing at higher altitudes. 3. Small lake at the top: After you hike this long you get a small reward at the end which is the lake. Unfortunately when we went up there it was a bit swampy. Lot of chipmunks Tips: 1. Carry a light weight raincoat in case it rains. Check the weather before going. 2. Do not feed the chipmunks, they have plenty of food in the forest as they can get aggressive. Enjoy the hike!

    Im not going to lie, this hike was really steep and really hard. We are from Nebraska, so we are not experienced hikers by any means, but we were able to make it to the top! It was definitely worth it!

    Gem Lake
    Grecia P.

    Beautiful hike from start to finish! Great way to avoid the RMNP crowds and still get the great views. Lots of chipmunks reside by this little lake. + Parking lot at the base of the trail is convenient - it seems people are steadily arriving and leaving so you can try finding a spot here. If not, park along the street down the road. You don't have to pay to park or use this trail - it's freeeee! + There is a restroom at the trailhead, which is convenient! It's clean. + The Park ranger is sooo nice and helpful! + Took about 1 hour to get up whilst stopping to take photos and drink water. We are locals; we saw many tourists taking breaks to catch their breath and it can take even 2 hours if you aren't used to these conditions. About 30-45 min to get down. + Get ready for a steady climb to the top with some drops in elevation in between. There's also a wooden panel you have to cross over some water at some point in the trail. + Beginning of July conditions are excellent - take a light sweater since it gets breezy at the top. Also take bug spray.

    Gem lake
    Ken T.

    Beautiful day for hike. This was one of the few trails @ RMNP that was hikable with tennis shoes & no snow gear this time of year. Moderate. 3.4 mile out & back. Great views along the way. Fun to pose with Paul Bunyan's boot- there's a hole in the sole. Lots of traffic with a few choke points, so it wasn't the fastest hike today. Great overlook of Estes Lake.

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    Jessica F.

    Difficult hike for people who aren't used to the altitude changes But totally worth it. Take lots of breaks and bring lots of fluids and snacks. The lake at the top is well worth the hike and a beautiful place to relax.

    Gem lake
    Abby S.

    Though this is labeled as a beginner trail, I'd say it's more like an intermediate one, only because there's so many stairs - big ones towards the end. The total hike is about 3-4 miles and will get your thighs burning. Such pretty views all the way up to the top, plenty of photo ops. Even in late November there was tons of sunshine and clear skies. The lake itself was already frozen over and we didn't see any chipmunks. It took about two hours back and forth for two adults to make the trek. All those stairs took some time to climb. Just when you thought you were done, there was another climb ahead. Not a bad thing, just take your time and stretch those legs!

    Gayle L.

    This was a great hike!! From start to finish we enjoyed it! We were glad we wore hiking boots rather than tennis shoes as there are a lot of rocks and quite a bit of water on the trail near the top. The small lake at the top was awesome and the chipmunks were so fun! I highly recommend going all the way to the top.

    Ashton H.

    It was so fun!!! A hike up to chipmunk haven was awesome! Luckily, I brought some trail mix so the chipmunks could eat with me.

    The Gem lake
    Alissa R.

    This is a great hike, wonderful views, gorgeous rocks, boulders all around, and then the nice little serene lake at the top. We came a bit late on a weekday so we got to enjoy the lake to ourselves for a good 20 minutes, unless you count all the little chipmunks that were very curious about us, so adorable. My friend whose a dude was a bit afraid they would jump on him and somehow slaughter him with their tiny teeth-they did not, but got incredibly close to us (people must be feeding them...) This is not the craziest hike but not a lazy stroll by any means, wear climbing shoes and bring plenty of water-you are going to sweat. *If you are afraid of heights this will be a challenge for you, take some legal drugs or drink a bloody mary beforehand or both. *restrooms at beginning and end of trail, the one at the top is sketchy, as in you might fall down a cliff trying to get to it (I just went behind a big rock instead) *1.7 miles up

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    4 years ago

    Awesome family hike, we went with a 9, 6, and 4 year old. Wear layers and bring water!

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    Ask the Community - Gem Lake Trail

    Review Highlights - Gem Lake Trail

    Small lake at the top: After you hike this long you get a small reward at the end which is the lake.

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    Rocky Mountain National Park - Bear Lake

    Rocky Mountain National Park

    4.7(815 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    This place is absolutely stunning!! You have to go if you are in the Colorado area!!…read more We got in around noon and went to Bear lake and Alberta falls! Both were incredible. We also drove around a bit and it was just dream like! There are sooo many elk! Drive slow and watch for wild life!! Hiking can be difficult even on the well maintained paths. Make sure you wear solid footwear! Take lots of pictures and know your cell phone service may not work inside the park. Always remember to carry out what you carry in! That includes things like banana peels and orange rinds! Don't leave anything behind! Enjoy this absolutely gorgeous national park!!

    The views are spectacular from every angle throughout the park!…read more Rocky Mountain National Park was established on January 26, 1915 and was dedicated on Sept. 4, 1915. We had already planned to come here on Oct. 1, 2025 which coincided with the first day of the Federal Government Shutdown. We arrived before anyone was at the Entrance Station to take entrance fees & reservations. We later exited & reentered the park and there was a guy at the entrance booth. He didn't seem to know what was going on and the fees/reservations were not collected. I had gone online to recreation.gov and made a reservation for a timed entry to the park. There was a $2 fee. There are 2 reservation options: Timed Entry with or without Bear Lake Road Reservation. First wildlife we saw were the Mule Deer. During our visit here, we heard Elk bugling, saw Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, chipmunks, & birds. Trail Ridge Road is a major road which is also part of US Highway 34. It takes you up to the Alpine Tundra and is the highest continuous paved road in North America. Some of the stops are: Fairview Curve, Medicine Bow Curve, Lava Cliffs, Rock Cut, Forest Canyon, & Many Parks Curve. With the different elevations in the park, the terrain also changes! I was amazed with how the landscape was so vast & stunning from the grassy meadows to the Alpine Tundra! Trail of Aspens - there's a plaque with information about it at Hollowell Park. Look in the distance above the sign and you'll see them. Going in the Autumn time, it was so easy to see them as they were changing colors! Sprague Lake - saw lots of Trout in the shallow water before reaching the lake itself. Took the Trail Ridge Road up to the Alpine Tundra area where the Alpine Visitor Center is. This visitor center is the highest one in the National Park System at 11,796 feet. It was closed, but the Trail Ridge Store with a coffee stand next door was open. The elevation here can bring on altitude sickness. The elevation reaches over 12,000ft. Everyone should be careful and drink plenty of water. We live at Sea Level in Los Angeles and acclimating to the elevation helped somewhat. We still had a bit of trouble catching our breath. Coming back down, we stopped by the Sheep Lakes Information Station. I think we were too early to see the sheep. We didn't see any Bighorn Sheep there. Alluvial Fan - Pretty cool area! There was a Lawn Lake flood on July 15, 1982. An alluvial fan is basically a fan-shaped deposit of sediment. There's a bridge across Roaring River near the base of the Alluvial Fan. You can walk up a little bit for a view of the water falling or a selfie with the river in the background. We spent about 8 hours in the park. Most of it was driving and taking in the sights. No hiking for us, but we did get out and do some of the short walks out to see things. Our last stop was at the Fall River Visitor Center. It is located just outside of the park. Lucky for us that this is run in a partnership with the NPS & by the Rocky Mountain Conservatory and was open! We were able to see the exhibits and use the park stamp for my parks passport book. Next door is a store that we also visited and took advantage of their restroom before heading into the town for dinner. I hope to make it back again! Seeing the wildlife and the tundra area were highlights.

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    Rocky Mountain National Park - Rocky Mountain National Park

    Rocky Mountain National Park

    Rocky Mountain National Park - Alpine Ridge Trail

    Alpine Ridge Trail

    Rocky Mountain National Park - Alluvial Fan  10-01-2025

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    Alluvial Fan 10-01-2025

    Emerald Lake - Lake

    Emerald Lake

    5.0(29 reviews)
    9.1 mi

    Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

    After spending a part of my morning at Bear Lake, I decided to do this hike to Emerald Lake the…read moresecond part of the day. This hike starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake trailhead and is 1.8 miles one way (3.6 miles RT). I would say that it is a moderate hike that has some elevation climb to it. You will pass both Nymph Lake and Dream Lake along way. The views along the way are spectacular. Emerald Lake is nestled in between some mountains at an elevation of 10,111 feet. You can see Hallett Peak and the jagged spires of Flattop Mountain across this iconic alpine lake. In between the two mountains is the Tyndall Gorge. There were some small ripples in the water caused but a slight wind. Several people that hiked here jumped in and swam in the water. I ended up relaxing on a large rock and eating my lunch while enjoying the view. Emerald Lake starts at the beginning of the Bear Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park. To reach this trail, you must drive ten miles on Bear Lake Road after entering through the Beaver Meadows Entrance. There is a separate timed entry reservation that is required to access Bear Lake Road. If you are unable to find parking at the Bear Lake Trailhead, there is a free shuttle that you can ride to the trailhead.

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    Emerald Lake - Friends

    Friends

    Emerald Lake - Me

    Me

    Emerald Lake - Lake

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    Lake

    Town of Estes Park - River that runs through Estes Park

    Town of Estes Park

    4.1(68 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    While visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, I spent some time in Estes Park after each day in the…read morepark. You have to go through this town to get to a couple of the park entrances. I grabbed dinner at a few restaurants and spent some time in Stanley Park. The view of Lake Estes from the park is stunning. The downtown area in Estes Park has a number of restaurants and retail stores. For activities, there is an Aerial Tramway to Prospect Mountain's summit or you can jump on a jeep tour. If you love outdoor activities, this is a great place to visit. Sadly, there was a huge wildfire going on when I was here that caused a lot of smoke. But overall, Estes Park is a great town to visit and has lots to do.

    The downtown is full of shops and mass amounts of people who capitalize off tourism from those…read morevisiting Rocky Mountain National Park. The shops sell stuff to the tourists and it's basically all souvenirs. We had ice cream and it was mediocre. The service is horrible here in general. I don't know what it is, but I think it's because the employees seem to be seasonal workers that really don't care. I also got the vibe that many locals hate tourism from the National Park so you get a mix of experiences from those businesses that truly care about your experience and others that don't at all and are annoyed by the amount of tourists in their town. The crosswalks in downtown go straight and horizontal so every now and then you get crossing guards yelling that you can now cross in all directions. The downtown doesn't have enough parking so it's hard to find a spot to park.

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    Town of Estes Park - Ground Squirrel

    Ground Squirrel

    Town of Estes Park - Side 2 Map 10-01-2025

    Side 2 Map 10-01-2025

    Town of Estes Park

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    Gem Lake Trail - parks - Updated May 2026

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