The Best Colorado Winter Hike is in Rocky Mountain National Park!
It’s no secret I love winter hiking and I might have found the best winter hike in Colorado in Rocky Mountain National Park.
My daughter and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park last weekend and hiked to Emerald Lake from the Bear Lake trailhead. It was jaw droppingly beautiful.
Here are all the details from our amazing day and a few tricks we learned in the process.
Where to Go
This gorgeous hike to Emerald Lake is in Rocky Mountain National Park. You’ll want to head to the Bear Lake trail head. This printable map will give you everything you need to know.
Rocky Mountain National Park is about two hours from where I live. So my daughter and I left around 7 am and got to the trailhead around 9:30 am.
We came into the park at the Beaver Meadows entrance, bought the $25 day pass, then enjoyed the scenic drive for a bit which is what added the extra time. So plan on a 15-20 minute scenic drive to get to the trailhead once you enter the park.
What Time to Arrive
This part can be really tricky. It all depends on the weekend, and time of year. I read a bunch of reviews on All Trails about this specific hike. Most of them said to arrive before 10 am in the winter because the parking lot fills fast. Well at 9:30, with blue bird skies and warm 30 degree temps the lot was beyond full.
We circled the lot four times and finally snagged a spot. If you are heading to RMNP on a warm and sunny winter day be ready for a packed lot. Consider arriving past noon, or before 9. And DON’T park creatively (like on the side of the road or in a place that isn’t technically a parking spot), the rangers are active and patrolling.
How Long, How Far, How Hard
The hike from the Bear Lake trailhead to Emerald Lake is an out and back hike. It is 3.3ish miles total. If you are hiking with kids, family, or a group factor in water and snack breaks. All in, three hours is a good amount of time to allot for the hike. Since we drove so far we took our time and didn’t rush.
You’ll gain about 700 feet of elevation, according to All Trails. The trailhead is at around 9,400 feet. With the end goal being Emerald Lake at 10,110 ft of elevation. This hike gets you breathlessly happy.
The hike is considered moderate to strenuous depending on the reviews you read. I’m moderately in shape and found it to be brisk and exhilarating. I was able to enjoy the hike with my 13 year old daughter and we didn’t find it easy or hard…moderate is a good explanation for this hike. The starting and ending elevation place it in that category because as you reach the Lake there are moments when you for sure feel a bit winded due to altitude.
Winter Hiking Readiness
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Winter hiking is very different than summer high-altitude hiking. It requires different gear and a different mindset.
My arsenol of winter gear can be found here. But specifically for this hike you’ll want to bring a range of gear and decide upon arrival what you’ll want.
Luckily, you can ask the ranger on site (if there is one) or any friendly hiker making their way off the trail into the parking lot. Ask’em if they needed snowshoes or chains (also know as ice cleats). On the day we went it was unanimous from all we spoke to, snowshoes weren’t needed. But ice cleats, were recommended. It really depends on if fresh snow has fallen and how packed down the trail is.
Here’s what we brought in the car so we were ready for whatever the trail had for us.
- Snow Shoes
- Trekking Poles
- Ice Cleats/Micro Spikes
- Winter Hiking Boots
- Wools Socks
- Fleece/Moisture Wicking Sweatshirt
- Waterproof Jacket
- Waterproof Pants
- Crocodile Gaiters
- Day Pack
- Water, Snacks
- Hat
- Water proof and liner gloves
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
Ultimately we decided, given the snow pack, to just wear our hiking boots. However ice cleats would have been ideal because we slipped and slide on the way down. Snow shoes would have been too much on our particular day. Packing a variety of gear options is the right call because you won’t know exactly what you need until you get there.
Watch the Weather and Take the Camera
When I hike in winter I’m very selective about heading out on the best weather days within my scheduling window. Typically I plan day trips and hikes like this loosely and let the weather drive my planning.
Once my date is selected I take a peek at the hourly temperatures and plan my day. The three things I try and never forget are sunscreen, lip balm, and a camera! Winer hikes are breathtakingly beautiful! And this hike should be on every Colorado hikers bucket list!
Regardless of what the day brings, I always end my time feeling refreshed and excited for the next hike. Being out in God’s country never ever disappoints!
With hope for you and your intentional life,
