Embark on the enchanting Rocky Mountain National Park’s Nymph Lake Colorado Trail, winding through breathtaking landscapes of towering peaks and serene alpine lakes, showcasing the natural beauty of Colorado’s wilderness at its finest.
Rocky Mountain National Park’s Nymph Lake Colorado Trail
One of the most well-liked short hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), which is close to the Colorado town of Estes Park, is the hike to Nymph Lake.
This lake is a part of the Emerald Lake path, a pleasant, kid-friendly journey that offers three picturesque lakes total: Dream Lake, Nymph Lake, and Emerald Lake. There are also two additional alternative lakes, Bear Lake and Lake Haiyaha, that you may reach via side trails.
This trail is an excellent place to start hiking to acclimate to the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, and it’s also typical to see wildlife.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the Nymph Lake Trail, including how to purchase permits, where to park, and how to reach the trailhead within Rocky Mountain National Park. Don’t miss anything!
Nymph Lake Trail: What To Expect
There are three lakes on the main track of the Emerald Lake trek, including this one.
The trip to Nymph Lake is brief and straightforward, making it suitable for hikers of all ages and skill levels.
The difficulty level rises slightly, although not much, when you pass Nymph Lake and on to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake.
The trail begins with a short climb up to Nymph Lake on a paved path that soon gives way to a dirt and rock surface.
You will reach a fork close to the trailhead where you can turn left to reach Nymph / Dream / Emerald Lake or right to reach Bear Lake. If you’d like, you can return here later and visit Bear Lake on your way out. It can wait; it’s right near the trailhead.
Hiking for 20 to 30 minutes will bring you to Nymph Lake, which is dotted with lily pads. You can stop off the track and relax on the lovely bench.
We came into some elk strolling just across the hiking path early in the morning! This lake appears to have a lot of them.
Additionally, you may occasionally spot black bears, moose, deer, and other wildlife. Pets are not permitted, and little children should be kept within visual reach.
It’s a good idea to start this hike early in the morning or late in the afternoon because it’s quite popular and frequently busy. You’ll also need to obtain entrance permits for Rocky Mountain National Park. In a moment, I’ll go into further detail about that procedure.
Nymph Lake is not so much a lake as it is a pond. Compared to Dream Lake or Emerald Lake, it is inferior. It resembles a sneak peek of those lakes more. If you can, keep visiting the other lakes!
The Other Lakes
You can hike to Dream Lake and Emerald Lake after taking in the sights at Nymph Lake, or you can hike back to the trailhead. Just 20 to 30 minutes of hiking will get you to Dream Lake from Nymph Lake,
and another 20 to 30 minutes will get you to Emerald Lake. Optional side hikes offer views of Bear Lake or Lake Haiyaha. The best lake in the area is Emerald Lake, so if you have the time and energy,
I highly recommend hiking all the way to it! Dream Lake is pleasant as well. My comprehensive guide to the path contains more information about visiting Emerald Lake and/or the other lakes if you choose to go the rest of the way.
Entrance Fee
Rocky Mountain National Park requires a timed entry permit in addition to a national park pass for the majority of the year. Since the Nymph Lake route is a component of RMNP, this requirement also applies to it.
Purchasing a national park pass is simple and can be done in person or online. They offer daily passes as well, but we usually purchase the annual pass and visit multiple US parks annually. The RMNP website has more details as well as the most recent fees.
The Nymph Lake Trail also requires a timed admission permit. Although a little bothersome, this one is meant to control crowds at RMNP. If you come really late in the afternoon or quite early in the morning, there are some exceptions to this rule.
Nymph Lake Trailhead: How To Get There
The Bear Lake trailhead, at the end of Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, is where the hike to Nymph Lake begins.
The GPS coordinates are as follows: 40.312007745083704, -105.64600936235149
In addition, you can use the Google map below to find your way straight to the parking lot. Estes Park is 45 minutes away by car, while Denver, Colorado, is two hours away.
Although shown as the Bear Lake Trailhead on maps, you can confidently consider this as the starting point of the Nymph Lake Trail.
Trailhead Conditions
You don’t need high clearance or anything unusual to reach the Bear Lake trailhead because the road is paved and in good shape all the way from Estes Park. Friendly National Park Service rangers staff
a booth to check entry permits as soon as you turn onto Bear Lake Road. A trail map, trash cans, water bottle filling stations, information signs, and vault toilets are all located at the trailhead. There are more than 200 parking places in the expansive lot at the trailhead,
but they fill up rapidly due to the hike’s current extreme popularity. You can use NPS’s Park & Ride shuttle bus service if the parking lot is full.
U.S. National Park Regulations
The standard U.S. national park restrictions are applicable for the Nymph Lake Colorado trek since it is a component of Rocky Mountain National Park.
As usual, kindly keep the trail tidy, show consideration for other hikers, and leave no trace. Regards and safe travels!
Best Time To Visit
Although the Nymph Lake Colorado trip is pleasant at any time of day, I believe that early morning is the ideal time to go. Due to its tremendous popularity, parking for this trek is extremely difficult,
and going early allows you to avoid part of the heat and throng. Because you can see reflections on the lakes, it’s also a great location for photography. Although the Nymph Lake hike is accessible year-round,
May through October are the ideal months to go because there isn’t any ice or snow on the track. Before you travel, you can check the most recent trail conditions on the RMNP website.
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