Hiking Bierstadt Lake Loop has been on by list for a while now. Each time I am in Rocky Mountain National Park I drive past the trailhead on my way to Bear Lake Trailhead or Glacier Gorge Trailhead. I often think I need to check this out sooner or later. In August of 2021 my husband and I had been hiking and jeeping for a few days. After he flew home I decided Bierstadt Lake Loop would be the perfect solo hiking trail for me.
Location
Bierstadt Lake is located in Rocky Mountain National Park just minutes East of Estes Park. Follow Moraine Avenue out of town and you will find the entrance. From there, follow the signs to Bear Lake Road and turn right. The Bierstadt Lake Trailhead is about 8 miles from the turn and on the right side of the road. It is well marked. There are few parking places here so you may want to park at the Park and Ride and take the bus.
Bierstadt Lake can also be accessed from the Park and Ride area and Bear Lake.
Hiking Up the Trail
The hike to Bierstadt Lake Loop is a lollipop trail (an out and back trail with a loop in the middle). It is about 3.2 miles. The trail is generally easy to hike on with mostly packed dirt and steps. However, the trail continuously inclines with switchbacks for about a mile. In spite of this, as incline hiking goes, this is not too bad of a trail. As a matter of fact, It is a very pretty hike starting out with a walk through the forest.
Shortly after you will be rewarded with views of the mountains and plenty of wildflowers. It was hazy from wildfires the day I was there but still very beautiful.
The Loop
You will come across a sign that points out the lake trail. You can go either left or straight. I decided to go straight. Even though there is a trail, there are many paths around the lake and that you can follow all the way around. Hiking around Bierstadt Lake Loop was very peaceful, in fact, I saw very few people around the lake. I felt the far side was much prettier and wondered if I should have taken a left turn at the loop instead of a right.
Conclusion
Although hiking the Bierstadt Lake Loop trail was not my most adventurous or thrilling hike I still enjoyed it. It was the last day of my trip so it was a good wind down for the week. I will be posting more of our hiking and jeeping adventures from our August trip over the next week or so.
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Follow more of our Colorado adventures at these links:
Jeeping
Crystal Mill, Colorado October 2020
Hikes
Paint Mines, Colorado May 2021
Royal Arch Trail, Boulder, Colorado September 2020
Flatirons Loop Trail, Boulder, Colorado September 2020
Independence Ghost Town, Colorado October 2020
The Grottos Trail, Aspen, Colorado October 2020
Silver Lake, Telluride, Colorado October 2020
Rifle Falls, Colorado September 2020
Odessa and Fern Lakes Aug 2020
St Mary’s Glacier Hike Aug 2017
Ghost Towns
Independence, Colorado October 2020
Road Trips
Our Rocky Mountain National Park Trip Aug 2018
My Favorite Colorado Road Trip Aug 2016
Resources
Colorado Chelsea, Hikes and Travels in Colorado and Beyond is a great resource for hiking in Colorado. Chelsea lives in Colorado and has blogged about her many different hikes giving great information on each.
All Trails. All trails is a hiking App that gives information on most every hike known. You can use this app to get an idea of where or what type of hike you want to do. Directions are available as well.
I used Best Hikes Rocky Mountain National Park guide book to determine which hike I wanted to do. This book covers a lot about each trail listed along with difficulty level, distance, and location. In regards to location, it is additionally broken down by area and includes maps of each trail. It also has a lot of colored photos which I like.
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What a picturesque, beautiful landscape, lake & mountains to enjoy on a hike in nature ~ thanks for sharing, Lori 🙂
Thanks for reading, Phil. It was a great day!
What a great hike! Its beautiful! We skipped this hike when we visited RMNP 🙁 🙁
I passed it by several times over several years. I’m glad I finally hiked it!!
A hike…in the mountains…by a lake? I am in. Looks like a great hike for your last day Lori. Having the wide open lake for the mountain views is a gift. Thanks for sharing and stay well. Allan
It was a great day! Thanks for stopping by, Allan! You stay well too!! Lori
I like that term – lollipop trail. some beautiful scenery on the hike; that last photo is stunning. By the way, who took the photo of you?
Someone passing me asked if I would take their photo so then I had him
take mine!!
I always like doing that as well…
I’ve never heard of Bierstadt Lake Loop, despite having gone to RMNP three summers ago and doing a couple of hikes there. It’s a shame, because it looks gorgeous! Especially in the warmer months when the sun’s out and everything’s in bloom. Happy to hear that you had a lovely time in this beautiful part of Colorado!
It was nice hike. Relatively short but lots of views!!
What an amazing hike – it looks beautiful round every turn! 🙂
It was really a great hike! So
Much to see!!
I like this hike! Lovely photos!
Thanks!! It was a perfect for my last day out there!
So pretty! I’m getting ready to publish a post that features a little hiking I did in northern Minnesota. It just can’t compare, I’m afraid. Being an Iowan, I know you understand. 🙂
I’m sure it will be great! I’ll look for it!
Thanks!
Wow what an amazing hike, the views are stunning. Love your photos.
Thanks! It was a great day!
Lovely so beautiful
It was a beautiful lake! Very peaceful!
What is the name of this place, and where is it?
It is Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado in the USA. It is called the Bierstadt Lake Loop trail.
Thanks for letting me know Lori, have a nice day.
You are welcome. Have a great day also!!
Thank you 😊
My wife and I will actually be spending some time in Colorado in October. So thanks for the hiking idea. I know it’s not easy to find a relatively easy trail in Rocky Mt. Nat’l. park from past experience. Assuming the roads are open , this loop trail seems to be a can’t miss option.
I think this area stays open longer than some but I could be wrong. The elevation is the worst part of this trail. I believe if you hike from Bear Lake down to Bierstadt Lake you have much less of the elevation but it is a bit longer. Have a great trip!! Lori