Our favorite national park trail of all is the trail that leads to Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake in the Bear Lake area of Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a favorite on our first visit and remains a favorite now. It's just beautiful and for the second time in a row was snow covered. I think the snow is what makes us love it the most. Colorado has had the warmest winter on record so were we were not expecting to see much snow still on the trails. This really surprised us! The photos do not do it justice, but I hope it gives you a small glimpse of why we love it so much.
A photo of the drive through Moraine Park on the way to Bear Lake.
Driving to the Bear Lake area.
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake
Ben at Nymph Lake
Shortly after leaving the lake parts of the trail became snow covered. It also, in places, was icy and slippery.
Cruz and David
the overlook of Nymph Lake
me and the boys admiring Nymph Lake from above
David taking in the views along the trail.
hiking to Dream Lake
Cruz
Ben
Dream Lake
me and Ben at Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Ben at Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Cruz at Dream Lake
Dream Lake
Part of the lake was thawed. Part was still frozen, and part of it still had just a thin layer of ice.
Dream Lake
Look at those blue skies! It was a beautiful morning for a hike!
hiking to Emerald Lake
Cruz and David
Emerald Lake was mostly still frozen
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
Ben and several others walked on the frozen lake.
walking on Emerald Lake
Ben standing on Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake
soaking in Emerald Lake
Ben made a small snowman on the lake.
Ben
Brothers throwing snowballs.
David
On the hike back down, we stopped to watch some skiers up in the mountain.
hiking back down the trail
On the hike back down, we had planned to fork off and hike to Lake Haiyaha but discovered it was still too snowed over and icy to do without proper gear. For the same reason, we didn't get to see it on our last visit either. Maybe next time. But, while in the area, it began to snow! What a perfect way to end our favorite hike!
enjoying the first (of many) snow flakes on the trip
We just cannot love this place enough!
If you'd like to read about last year's hike to these lakes visit Hiking to Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake 2025. It was most definitely the most snow we had ever seen!! It was simply incredible and was the moment this place captured our hearts.
Or, if you'd like, you can watch this YouTube video from our 2025 hike there-
To finish out the day, once we got back to the trailhead, we stopped by Bear Lake. We then had
a picnic at Sprague Lake, drove up Trail Ridge Road, and then hiked to
see Chasm Falls. I'll share about all of that next.
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