Bierstadt Lake Trailhead
- nps.gov
- Estes Park
About
This is the short, steep way up to Bierstadt Lake, with switchbacks that climb a moraine above Bear Lake Road before the trail flattens out into aspen and a quiet lake. I'd rather come down these switchbacks than up them.
The trailhead is about 7 miles up Bear Lake Road, inside Rocky Mountain National Park, with a small lot right beside it. The Park lists the lake at 1.4 miles from here with about 566 feet of gain, which is a lot more climb than the same lake from the Bear Lake trailhead (1.6 miles, about 255 feet). Most of that gain is switchbacks over the Bierstadt Moraine, with views down onto the road corridor. At the top the grade eases and you're in forest by a flat lake with a loop around it. In summer the free shuttle serves this area from the Park & Ride.
Go in fall when the aspen turn, or in winter on snowshoes if there's enough snow. The trail stays open year-round, but bring traction for hard-packed ice. That little lot fills up, so use the shuttle in summer. If you want the easy version, start at Bear Lake instead and save these switchbacks for the walk down. No dogs on Park trails. Summer timed entry covers Bear Lake Road, so check nps.gov/romo before you head up.
