I just returned from a breathtaking trip through Colorado, and I am pumped to start sharing it all with you! As you might expect, the highlight of the adventure was two days of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. And while that may seem pretty straightforward, I learned so much! Particularly during our visit to the Bear Lake Corridor.
Now, if you look up “most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park,” Bear Lake is the first thing that pops up on just about every list. This trail is low-effort, high-reward from every angle, so it makes sense that everyone wants to add it to their list.
On the downside, that popularity makes it quite a hassle for anyone to visit this park area. The NPS tried to streamline things with timed entry passes. However, the limited permits, late reservation releases, strict entry enforcement, and long lines felt nearly as complicated as Disneyworld’s new ticket and reservation system.
Case and point: We entered the park at 8 a.m., headed straight to Bear Lake, and didn’t end up hitting the trails until nearly 9:30. So today, I’ll be sharing a few tips & tricks to maximize your time here, along with a couple of trail recommendations!
What Do You Need to Visit the Bear Lake Corridor?
If you didn’t know, you can’t get into Rocky Mountain National Park between May and October without a Park Access Timed Entry Permit. And if you want to visit Bear Lake during that time, you must have a Park Access+ Timed Entry Permit.
The park is really strict on this, and they will turn you away if you show up without a timed entry pass or outside of your entry window. The only exception to this is before 9 a.m. and after 2 p.m. If you slip in during those time windows, you’ll be free to explore as much of the park as you want–except the Bear Lake corridor.
They’re extra-strict on this part of the park, and passes to the area are enforced from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.- basically all day, every day. In good news, the permit only costs $2. In bad news, you may never be able to see it if you visit during a peak time and don’t grab a permit as soon as they drop.
In addition to any applicable timed entry pass, you also need a park entrance pass. If you don’t have some sort of annual park entrance pass, you can buy a 1-day pass for $30 or a 7-day pass for $35. You can buy this online in advance to make things easier or pay at the booth on-site.
How to Get an Entry Permit to RMNP & Bear Lake
Okay, so how exactly do you get a timed entry permit?
- Find out when your permits drop. Timed entry permits drop on the first day of the month for the following month. For example, all permits for October 2023 dropped on September 1. If you’re already in the month you plan to visit, you can see whatever permits are left. However, the park releases about 40% of the passes the night before, so you may be out of luck for some peak weekends or morning permits unless you’re willing to wait.
- Pick the permit that’s right for you. If you plan to visit Bear Lake, you’ll need a Park Access+ Permit, which you can find here: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086910/ticket/10086912. If you only don’t want to visit Bear Lake, you can get a standard Park Access Permit. Both cost $2.
- Choose your date(s) and time and buy the permit. If you buy sooner than later, you’ll have more passes to choose from. Don’t forget that you can’t enter the park at all until your 2-hour entry window, so reserve a time for early in the day when possible.
- Print your permit, and don’t lose it! Signal is sketchy at RMNP, so I highly recommend printing out your passes or downloading them on your phone to ensure you have access to them.
Getting the Most from the Bear Lake Corridor
You’d think getting your pass would be the most complicated thing about visiting the Bear Lake Corridor…but that’s not always the case. In good news, the hassle is 100% worth it. And, hopefully, you’ll be able to enjoy your time even more than I did by not making my mistakes!
Arrive Early
Okay, so first things first, get there as early as possible. If you have an 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. entry, arrive at 8. Even in the off-season, this is the most popular part of the park, and the line of traffic can get crazy. The drive is beautiful, but it’s also more fun when you can go at your pace, and a line of red tail lights doesn’t mar the view. In hindsight, I wish we’d gotten a 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. pass instead of 8 to 10.
Utilize the Park & Ride System.
Second, use the Park and Ride. This is the #1 thing I wished I understood before we got to the park. I’d read some articles that mentioned the park’s shuttle system, but they referred to it as more of a last resort. That made me assume it was long or unreliable.
That was an incorrect assumption, and we paid for it dearly with lost time.
The Park & Ride parking lot is about 10 minutes down the mountain from the Bear Lake trailhead. And although the Bear Lake lot is one of the bigger ones in this area, it fills up fast. If it’s full, you have to turn around and hope the Glacier Gorge parking lot has a space so you can hike 15 minutes back up to Bear Lake. And if Glacier Gorge is full, you have to backtrack 10 minutes down the mountain to the Park & Ride lot anyway.
OR…you can use the free, nifty Park & Ride System from the get-go.
A Bear Lake shuttle stops at the Bierstadt Lake, Glacier Gorge, and Bear Lake trailheads every 7 minutes before making the same stops back to the Park & Ride. So you’ll never be stuck waiting long on a shuttle, and you can conveniently hop on and off as you please! Plus, you never have to worry about finding a parking spot.
If you plan to explore the Bear Lake corridor, just use the Park & Ride. It’s fast, clean, and easy.
Don’t Leave Until You’re Done
Once you’re in Bear Lake, I’d highly recommend that you stay and do all the hiking you want. If you leave, you won’t be allowed back into the area until after 2 p.m. We did not realize that, and I almost got stranded when my friend had to leave with the car for a couple of hours.
Beyond that, the area gets more and more crowded as the day goes on. So, there’s no reason not to stay in the area and knock out all the hikes you want before moving on to the rest of the park.
Dress Appropriately
When hiking in the Bear Lake corridor, there are a couple of things to keep in mind regarding the weather. First, it can get pretty chilly this high up. But once you get hiking, you’ll probably work up a sweat. I’d recommend lightweight, layered clothing that you can shed as necessary.
And for those not used to high elevations, don’t forget you’ll be way closer to the sun up here, even if it doesn’t feel like it. A long-sleeve shirt with UPF protection is always a good idea to keep sunburn at bay.
Do More than Bear Lake
I realize that Bear Lake is the #1 trail in the park…but it’s kind of a cheater trail. Yes, yes, it’s gorgeous. But it’s also ridiculously easy with its flat, 0.6-mile trail.
I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy your relaxing walk around Bear Lake. But if you’re going to go through all the effort to get up there, be sure to hit a few of the other trails, too! They require more effort, but the payouts can be huge!
There are nearly 20 big highlights to see in this area, including tons of beautiful lakes and waterfalls. Plus, there are many smaller trails that wind through the woods and meadows, offering chances to see wildlife.
My Trail Suggestions
I highly recommend making the trek up to Alberta Falls. You’ll probably be a bit winded, but the waterfall is gorgeous, and so are the rapids you can see long before you make it to the top. It’s about a mile round-trip from the Glacier Gorge parking lot.
I was also told multiple times that the Dream and Emerald Lakes are spectacular! We unfortunately ran out of time to visit, but they’re top of my list for the next time I’m in the area.
And if you want to really get off the beaten trail, here’s a little secret that a shuttle driver told me about.
If you get off the shuttle at the Bierstadt Lake trailhead and walk back down the road toward the Storm Pass trailhead, you’ll find a small dirt trail that says 1.25 miles to Park & Ride. (Across from Storm Pass; same side of the road as Bierstadt Lake) It doesn’t even have a name, so you’d probably miss it if you didn’t know it existed!
The trail starts a little rough (and ugly, tbh), but it quickly turns into a serene forest walk with occasional meadows full of wildflowers. You will probably be the only person on this trail, which presents a prime opportunity for wildlife spotting. I saw several turkeys (including babies), squirrels, chipmunks, and a giant male elk. That was the highlight of my trip, and I am so glad the shuttle driver recommended it to me!
Learn More in This YouTube Video!
Closing Thoughts on the Bear Lake Corridor
Is it a hassle to visit this part of Rocky Mountain National Park? Yes. Is it worth it? Also, yes.
Despite the hoops you have to jump through to actually get in and hike here, the views are stunning. It would have been a loss if we had skipped this part of the park, especially since my epic elk-spotting scenario happened here. We saw plenty of herds in other areas, but that moment was special for me. I also felt that Alberta Falls was the best waterfalls I saw.
I hope this guide helps make your trip to the Bear Lake corridor stress-free and easy! If you have any questions (or comments), please drop them below. I will do my best to answer them!
Stay tuned for more adventures coming your way from Colorado in the weeks ahead! Here’s what’s already live on the blog:
- Quick Guide to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs
- Need a Hot Springs Getaway? Mt. Princeton is the Best!
- Get Lost at Meow Wolf Convergence Station
- 8 Reasons to Book a Stay at the Catbird Hotel Right Now
If you’re not already signed up for the blog newsletter, be sure to subscribe before you leave so you never miss a post.
Sign Up for Updates from Carried Away Travels
Thanks for taking the time to swing by and read about Bear Lake! I hope you’ll return for more adventures with the Mandala Traveler. Until then, happy travels!
Ready for More? Check Out These Recent Posts!
- How to Spend 3 Days in Dublin & Northern Ireland
- 11 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Iceland
- My Top 12 Travel Tools For Saving Time & Money
- Dublin Exploration Hack: Big Bus Tours
- The Best 5-Day Colorado Itinerary
- How to Maximize Your Next Workcation: Top Tips
Make Vacation Planning Easier
Download my Vacation Planner or Travel Blogger’s Planner today!
