A hike in Rocky Mountain National Park was at the top of our priority list for our drive from Utah to Dallas. I absolutely loved our hike to Emerald Lake and want to share with your how to have the best experience on this trail.
This summer (2020) we went to nine National Parks. It was an epic adventure filled with nature, mountains, rocks and peace. Our final stop was Rocky Mountain National Park. Based on what I read online I wasn’t expecting it to be as gorgeous as some of the other parks. But just like I feel in every National Park, this one is amazing!
We were unsure of what to do our where to hike, but the hike we did blew us away! My husband was working, so I was alone with 4 kids. I was worried about motivating them and being able to carry my big 3-year-old. I will say it was not easy getting them started, but once we got on the trail, the beauty and wonder of the area took over and we were smitten for the entire 1.8 up the mountain.
I will share with your our favorite hike and exactly what to expect. We made our way to Emerald Lake. But this hike shows you multiple other gorgeous scenes along the way and in’st just about the destination.
How to Get to Emerald Lake Trail Head
If you come into Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park (coming from the East) Beaver Meadows Visitors Center will be ready to welcome you in. Stop here for the Junior Ranger program, a stamp for your passport and any current conditions you need to know.
Ride the Shuttle
The Ranger at the visitors center told me the parking lot at Bear Lake would be full. I thought I would ‘get lucky’ and find a spot, so I drove 5 miles past the park and ride to the Bear Lake parking lot. It was in fact very full, and with only 50 spots, it wasn’t likely to open up soon. There is no where to wait, so the only thing to do is drive down the 5 miles to the park and ride and take the shuttle up.
The shuttle lines do get long, so try to make it early enough in the day to not have to wait. During COVID they are only allowing 20 people on the shuttle so the wait can feel like forever, even though the buses come every 5-15 mins.
There are 3 shuttle stops. Every shuttle stops at every stop. This means, if you leave your phone in the car (like I did) you can get off on the first stop and catch the next shuttle down. You do not have to drive the entire 10 mile round trip loop (like we did).
The final stop on the shuttle is Bear Lake. It is the most popular spot so expect to travel with everyone else. But read on for the best way to avoid the crowd on the way down!
Because your car is so far away, you will want to bring enough food, sunscreen and water to keep you happy through long hikes and high elevation. Its a long way to go back to grab something (believe me, we did it!) so make sure to bring it.
My kids had to carry their jackets they wanted for the first 5 minutes of the hike the whole way.
Hiking with Kids Essentials
Hiking with kids is made so much easier with a few simple tips. Get the right gear for your ages and stages and you can have a much easier time. If you are hiking with a baby or toddler, get a carrier so you can make it all the way to your destination!
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When kids have the right gear and know the goal of hiking, they can have a better attitude and even push you to go faster. A good pair of shoes and a constant source of hydration is essential!
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What to Expect along the Hike in Rocky Mountain?
Emerald Lake is a beautiful small lake nestled in the bottom of steep mountains. with water flowing all along the hike, you will love the sounds, smells and sights this hike offers.
The most amazing part of this hike is there is a unique lake every half mile. It was easy for my kids to get excited about going to the next lake and taking a break there while basking in the views.
The hike in Rocky Mountain to Emerald Lake is 1.8 miles one way. My favorite part of this hike is about every 1/2 mile you will find a unique lake.
Ride the shuttle to the last stop which is Bear Lake. When you get off the shuttle, there are bathrooms and a very small shop to buy some souvenirs.
Before starting the best hike (to the left), you may want to walk to the right to see Bear Lake and if you are up for it meander 1/2 mile around the lake. I knew my kids had limited energy so we opted to go straight into the 1.8 mile hike up to Emerald Lake.
Nymph Lake
Nymph Lake is at exactly 1/2 mile up the trail. It is a gorgeous and serene pond filled with lily pads. You get to hike along the shore to continue. The edges of this pond are muddy and wet, so don’t get too close or you may get it up to the shin like my son did.
Dream Lake
This lake is much larger than Nymph Lake and is surrounded by large rocks and boulders. We enjoyed lunch here. Several birds and squirrels (chipmunks?) came so close to us, delighting the kids (and trying to steal our lunch).
You will hike .3 mile along this lake to continue on to the next lake, giving you amazing views all along the way.
Emerald Lake
It is quite a climb to the final lake. Its not too steep, but it will get your heart racing and breathing labored. We played games counting our steps and took lots of breaks to eat our power sticks (carrots). But the end destination is worth it.
Emerald Lake is nestled into the bottom of steep mountain cliffs. From what I saw, you can’t hike around it due to the rough and steep terrain. But you can bask in the beauty of a clear mountain lake and the rocky view behind it.
You’ll find limited shade and boulders to sit and enjoy the view. There were quite a few people at this lake and less privacy since you can only be at one end of the lake. Dream lake has a lot more room to spread out and have some alone time.
We saw a marmot at Emerald Lake. He was, unfortunately, surrounded by people and couldn’t figure out how to get away. He kept darting under boulders and around people. Poor little critter.
Tips for Hiking with Kids
Hiking with kids (at least my kids ) is tough. They complain and whine. They don’t want to do it. My goal this summer was to get my kids to enjoy hiking so we can keep doing it forever. I would say we made significant progress. When we hike in Rocky Mountain the elevation and the steepness made it difficult. Here’s a few of the best ways I’ve found to keep them moving and happy.
Have a Carrier for the Youngest
When you are hiking with an active toddler or 3-year-ols, bring a carrier! There will be many times when the kid wants to hike. But if you really want to make any significant progress you will need to carry them.
My favorite option is the Piggyback Rider. This is a lightweight bar that hangs around your waist. The toddler can easily step on and off the bar, which gives them a piggyback ride without you having to hold their legs. They can see over your shoulder and be part of the hike. This gives you your arms free to help other kids or keep your own balance as you hike. This was a lifesaver for our fast trek down from our hike in Rocky Mountain.
Make everything a game.
We count steps, play ninja warrior course, play freeze on rocks, or anything else that keeps the kids moving.
Get them talking.
I asked my son to tell me all about his minecraft world. He hiked 1/2 mile without one complaint because he was too busy talking. Normally it is a bit of a chore to listen about his world he’s created, but I had plenty of time on this hike.
More Tips for hiking with Kids on this post. {Coming Soon}
How Long Does it Take to Hike to Emerald Lake?
This hike took myself and my 4 kids (3,7,9,12) 1 hour and 45 minutes to go up to Emerald Lake (1.8 miles). It only took 45 minutes to go down. It is fairly steep and with the altitude can really take your breath away. Plus, we stopped for a long time to soak in (not literally) each lake. We ate lunch at the middle lake. I think alone I could’ve hiked this in 2 hours.
The Best Way Back from Emerald Lake
To get back down the mountain, we waited at the Bear Lake Shuttle stop for over an hour. Granted it was COVID precautions, so they were only letting fewer than 20 people on at a time. But I’ve heard it is just as bad during regular seasons because they allow more people into the park. It was frustrating that they only loaded 10 people at Bear Lake stop so they could pick up other passengers at the other stops. Especially in the mid- to late- afternoon the lines get very long.
The way to avoid the shuttle line is to hike from the Emerald Lake Trail toward Alberta Falls. From this trail, you can hike .7 mile from the Emerald Lake trail head to the Glacier Gulch Shuttle stop.
If you had more energy and time, hike all the way to Alberta Falls. This means hiking 1 mile to the Falls and another .7 back to the Glacier Gulch shuttle stop.
This way you can avoid the massive crowds and long lines at Bear Lake shuttle stop.
Since I didn’t know this trick, it was frustrating to wait for 1 1/2 hours and then see a short line at the next stop at Glacier Gulch. Going to Glacier Gulch shuttle stop is definitely a better option and pretty quick to walk to from the trails.
Planning your Hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
Emerald Lake was our favorite hike in the park, but we also enjoyed driving all the way up to the highest point in the Rockies and visiting the Alpine visitors Center. The views (and cold temperatures) were breath-taking! We drove out of the park on the west side and down to Adam’s waterfall near Grand Lake.
There are so many options for a fun day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Leave a comment for which hike you like.
If you love hiking at Rocky Mountain, try out the hikes in Arches National Park.
Don’t miss the epic adventures in Colorado Springs– 5 day itinerary! Make sure to make a stop at Red Rocks near Denver.
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