Lake Helene Hike

Make sure your camera is charged because the Lake Helene Trail reveals Instagram-worthy sights! Make sure you are acclimated to the area’s high altitude prior to your adventure or it won’t be very enjoyable! Pack plenty of water and wear layers as insurance against windy conditions on the exposed sections of the path! We also recommend checking the forecast prior to your adventure to avoid getting caught in inclement weather. Note that a Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) pass is required to access the network of trails.

From the Bear Lake Trailhead, take the rightmost Bear Lake Trail along the shoreline. Hike along the shoreline and at the intersection, take the Bierstadt Trail up a rocky ridge. Once you summit the ridge, you will confront yet another junction, veer left, and you will be diverted onto the Flattop Mountain Trail. Trek this path through towering pines and at the next fork in the road, turn right. Now hiking along the Fern Lake Trail, you will be guided along the Mill Creek and past the Sourdough dispersed campsites.

Follow the route past the Two Rivers Lake up to Lake Helene. From here, enjoy incomparable views of the Continental Divide and the peaks that sit atop. Notice Grace Falls in the northwest and Little Matterhorn in the north. Hallett Peak will be in the west, and on a clear day, you may even be granted views of Longs Peak in the south. Revel in the awe-inspiring views before retracing your steps all the way back to the trailhead.