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RMNP - Bear Lake TH


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RMNP - Bear Lake TH

Multiple 12'ers on the continental divide in RMNP. Multiple lakes and peaks can be visited from this trailhead.

Please view this document with everything you need to know about Rocky Mountain National Park 

Directions to parking lot: Bear Lake Rd - Google Maps

Alternate title data:

Hallett Peak: 10.3 miles - 3293' gain

Mount Ottis: 10.6 miles,  3428' gain

Flattop Mountain: 8.2 miles, 2870' gain

Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Haiyaha: 5.25 miles,  1065' gain

Emerald Lake: 3.6 miles - 700 ft elevation gain

Nymph Lake Trail: 1.2 miles - 262 ft elevation gain

The Loch, West Glacier Knob, Lake Haiyaha, and Nymph Lake:  5 miles, 1,300' gain

Smoke and Dragons Couloir 

Dragon's Tail Couloir: 2 miles,  1,500'  gain

Lake Helene: 6.4 miles, 1,600' gain

Odessa Lake:  8.3 miles, 1,180' gain

Ptarmigan Glacier

Sky Pond: 11 miles, 1900' gain

Little Matterhorn Scramble - An adventurous trail and scramble on the East ridge on Knobtop Mountain to Little Matterhorn over Odessa Lake in the Rocky Mountain National Park. 8.4 miles, 2800' gain

Little Matterhorn Scramble starts from Bear Lake Trailhead (need timed permit or early start). Follow good trail to Helen Lake area and continue an interesting climber's trail to drop down in the drainage. After crossing a creek, climb the hillside on dirt, grasses, gravel and loose rocks to the base of the Little Matterhorn ridge. Boulder field leads to the ridge then continue on ledge systems and short gullies with a short exposed section just before Little Matterhorn peak.

The Little Matterhorn Scramble is in the Colorado Scrambles book by Dave Cooper, which is one of the books the CMC publishes.  It is an easier scramble and would be a good trip for leaders to take newer scramblers on or those looking for a fun scramble but shorter day with less high altitude.   The highest point on the trip is only 11,586.'

  • Suitable Activities: Backcountry Nordic Skiing, Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding, Backpacking, Camping, Climbing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Mountaineering, Photography, Snowshoeing
  • Seasons: Year-round
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • View avalanche forecast.
Map
Activities
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Flattop Mountain Trail
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Hallett Peak
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Otis Peaks
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Hallett, Otis, Flattop Mountain
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Haiyaha
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Emerald Lake
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Nymph Lake Trail
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - The Loch, West Glacier Knob, Lake Haiyaha, and Nymph Lake
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Smoke and Dragons Couloir
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Dragon's Tail Couloir
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Lake Helene
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Odessa Lake
  • RMNP - Bear Lake TH - Ptarmigan Glacier
  • RMNP - Sky Pond
  • RMNP - Little Matterhorn Scramble
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