Emerald Lake

"Rise and shine and head to Rocky Mountain National Park. Make your way to the Emerald and Dream Lake trailhead for a memorable hike of a lifetime. The trek to Emerald Lake is the most popular in the entire park for its picturesque views along an easy trail. The trail itself is just 3 miles long where you will pass by Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and ultimately end at Emerald Lake. Be sure to check trail conditions before hiking as you may need to bring micro-spikes or snowshoes. We visited at the very end of April and spikes were definitely helpful! IMPORTANT! If visiting between May 26 through October 22, 2023, you need a timed permit to enter the park!! Learn more about it here!"

"Four Lake Loop Trail: 7.2 miles (moderate) This route takes you to four of Rocky Mountain National Park's most popular lakes: Bear Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, and a bonus - Nymph Lake! Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to take in the views of the beautiful lakes as well as one stunning set of cascades at Alberta Falls. "

"This hike starts at Bear Lake, and is a great beginner hike year round. During the winter months, you might need snowshoes or spikes. The trail only has about a 500 ft elevation gain, and is about 2.3 miles long. It'll take you to Emerald Lake, which I think is probably one of the top 5 trails in Colorado on Alltrails and other places."