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1.3 miles
Distance
486 ft
Climb
-25 ft
Descent
00:57:28
Avg time
460 ft
Altitude change
9,455 ft
Altitude min
9,932 ft
Altitude max
9,455 ft
Altitude start
9,915 ft
Altitude end
6.9%
Grade
-8.2%
Grade max
39.5%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
804 ft
Distance down
190 ft
Distance flat
00:57:28
Avg time
Dream Lake Details
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Activities
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaRocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, Colorado -
Difficulty Rating
-
Local Popularity100 in Hiking [+]
- 95 in Trail Running
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Global Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT1 Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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eBike Allowed
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Land OwnerNational Park Service
Distance: 2.2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 425 feet
Type of Trail: Out & Back, Easy
From the Bear Lake Trailhead, Dream Lake is a steady climb through aspen groves and ponderosa pine. At just over a half-mile, you will reach Nymph Lake, a charming lake filled with pond lilies that bloom throughout summer. Continue about another half-mile to reach the east end of Dream Lake as well as a junction – here you have the option to hike to Lake Haiyaha, continue to Emerald Lake, or turn back.
Note: Due to the extreme popularity of this hike, you might want to arrive early. The Bear Lake area is very busy, especially in summer and on fall weekends. Parking often fills by early morning. Roads are congested. The park’s free shuttle bus is here to help You can ride the shuttle to stunning destinations and popular trailheads, all while avoiding the hassle of dealing with traffic and searching for parking.
source: NPS Trail website
Access Info
Timed entry permit required to access via the Bear Lake Road.
From May 27 to October 10, 2022, Timed Entry Permit Reservations are required to enter most areas of Rocky Mountain National Park between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To access the Bear Lake Road Corridor, Timed Entry Permits are in effect from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 9 rides
- 6 miles average
6 Months
- 40 rides
- 5 miles avg distance
All
- 249 rides
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Dream Lake Trail Reports
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- Snow Packed
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- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
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Directions to dream-lake trailhead
(40.311920, -105.646120)
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Routes with this trail
★ 5.0 • 3 miles • 724 ft • 4 • Out & Back •
Very beautiful hike that visits 3 lakes along the way. The trail does get busy so consider starting early....
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Nearby Trails
- Bear Lake Loop 115 ft
- Nymph Lake 164 ft
- Bear Lake - Glacier Connector 194 ft
- Bear Lake Loop Access 197 ft
- Glacier Gorge Trail 2,710 ft
Rocky Mountain National Park
- By markholloway
Trailforks Map Team & contributors - #182572 - 1,673 views
This trails GPS track was originally sourced from OpenStreetMap and will always be available for download in OSM Format.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dream Lake
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Where is Dream Lake located?
Dream Lake is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Rocky Mountain National Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 40.31192, -105.64612.
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How hard is Dream Lake?
Dream Lake is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.9%.
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What is the elevation gain for Dream Lake?
Dream Lake has 486 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 25 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 9,455 ft to 9,932 ft.
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How long is Dream Lake?
Dream Lake is 1.3 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
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