Dream Lake Snowshoe Trail
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Dream Lake Snowshoe Trail
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A snowshoe to Dream Lake will take you to a gorgeous alpine lake nestled in the Rocky Mountains with Hallett Peak (12713ft) dominating the background.
Getting there
From Estes Park, take Highway 36 west and enter RMNP at the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station. Just after the pay station, turn left on Bear Lake Road. Follow the road for about 10.0mi until it ends at the Bear Lake Trailhead.
About
| When to do | Late November to Early April |
| Backcountry Campsites | Yes- get permits at RMNP Visitors Center |
| Toilets | Yes, primitive pit toilet |
| Pets allowed | No |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Good |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Dream Lake
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Dream Lake
Anyone on a snowshoe trip should have Avalanche training, we recommend AIARE 2 for all backcountry travellers, and AIARE 1 is the minimum. It is important to note that when travelling through avalanche terrain it is extremely valuable to always have a companion.
The snowshoe to Dream Lake is a local favorite and comes highly recommended to anybody visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. There are incredible views from all sections of the trip.
Depending on the amount of recent snowfall, you may not require snowshoes and be able to hike to Dream Lake.
From the trailhead turn to the left and follow the well-marked signs toward Nymph Lake. Once you arrive at Nymph Lake, about a 0.5mi from the trailhead, you will be able to see the top of Hallett Peak (12713ft). This also marks the direction towards Dream Lake. The trail hugs to the right of Nymph Lake before climbing up in elevation as the trail traverses along the steep mountainside.
After snowshoeing for about a 1.0mi, the trail will split. Follow the signs for Dream Lake until you find yourself on the frozen Dream Lake with Hallett Peak dominating the background!
Dream Lake itself makes for a great day trip but it also serves as a gateway to some of the more remote and less explored areas such as Emerald Lake and Lake Haiyaha.
To get back to the Bear Lake trailhead, return the way you came by retracing your steps.
Insider Hints
Avoid the crowds by going on a weekday!
You can often get to Dream Lake without snowshoes, depending on current snow conditions.
If you get to Dream Lake and you have more in you, continue on to Emerald Lake - #2 on the list of our top 10!
Fun Fact: In Estes Park, the Stanley Hotel, overlooking RMNP, was the inspiration for Stephen Kings ‘The Shining’! It is worth checking out and grabbing a beer at the hotel bar.
Snowshoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park takes you into remote terrain. Make sure you are prepared for an emergency with warm clothes, extra food, matches and potentially a satellite transceiver, like a Garmin InReach. Cell phones may not work on all trails.
Always check the avalanche forecast for the Front Ranges before heading out.
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Bear Lake
The snowshoe around Bear Lake is another great introduction to winter trails in RMNP. The trail around Bear Lake is…
Nymph Lake
If you are new to snowshoeing or winter hiking, the trail to Nymph Lake is a great introduction. Nymph Lake…
Hikeordie 5 years ago
A spectacular winter hike. Did it twice in January and the trail was absolutely beautiful!
Wyatt Thomas 6 years ago
Dream lake was a nice, easy trail on snowshoes.