Travel Guide: Hiking the Dream Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park
Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park and looking for a stunning family friendly hike? You’ll quickly find the Dream Lake Trail needs to be at the top of your list! This travel guide will cover all the details you need to make your hike a dream! Get it…..Dream Lake…..Okay, moving on.
About RMNP & The Dream Lake Trail
Rocky Mountain National Park is located in northern Colorado, spanning the Continental Divide & including over 400 square miles of forest, mountains & alpine tundra. Rocky Mountain National Park is the 3rd most visited National Park in the US, and the most popular in Colorado. RMNP has the highest peak in any national park, Longs Peak reaches 14,259′.
During our visit to Rocky Mountain National Park in July 2021, we knew we wanted to get out on the trail to experience the beauty this part of Colorado has to offer. After lots of research, the Bear Lake to Dream Lake Trail stood out to us for many reasons.
Our hike on the Dream Lake Trail was our first ‘official’ family hike (anything more than half a mile). Hiking with kids for the first time can be a challenge, so finding the right hike to keep our kids engaged was my top priority. The Dream Lake Trail is 2.2 miles round trip, with only 425′ in elevation gain. The views along the trail are breathtaking, and include 2 lakes (Nymph Lake is first, then Dream Lake) so the girls were constantly distracted, which kept their mind off the fact that we were walking through the woods.
And the best part? You can hike as much or as little of this trail as you’d like! Our original plan was to hike all the way up to Emerald Lake. However, hiking with kids doesn’t always go as planned. Once we reached Dream Lake, the girls needed to use the restroom & we realized it was time to head down the mountain. With kids, you have to remember it’s about making memories & enjoying the journey, not just reaching your destination.
Wondering how much time you’ll need to complete the hike? Our trek to Dream Lake & back took about 2 hours. This included taking our time at the viewpoints, resting for a snack, as well as stopping to film & take photos.
What To Expect At Dream Lake
The Dream Lake Trail is located inside RMNP. There is a fee to enter this park ($30 one day pass per vehicle) which you can purchase online before your trip, or pick up at one of the parks staffed entrance stations. Park tickets can be purchased HERE. Upon entering the park, you want to head to the Bear Lake trailhead. There is a large parking lot here where you can leave your car. When you arrive, if you find this parking lot full (like we did!) you can park at the shuttle stop, and take the RMNP bus to the Bear Lake Trailhead. We used this option & have zero complaints.
You’ll find very nice vault restrooms located at the shuttle stop, as well as at the Bear Lake trailhead. Make sure EVERYONE in your party uses the restroom before hitting the trail, as there are no potty stops on the way up.
Dream Lake Trail is dirt packed with some rocky inclines and and a few small wooden bridge crossings. We would consider this trail ‘easy’, our girls had no trouble navigating at the ages of 6 & 11.
I know we all love hiking with our furry friends, but dogs are not allowed on any of the trails inside RMNP. This is for the safety of your pet, yourself & the wildlife that call the park home. Speaking of keeping the wildlife safe, please make sure you practice the Leave No Trace principals & clean up after yourself on the trial. It’s likely you’ll encounter cute little chipmunks on the hike, who would be thrilled to share your lunch with you. No matter how cute they are, please remember not to feed them, as our food is not good for their tiny bodies!
When To Hike The Dream Lake Trail
Visiting RMNP in the summer months is your best bet for mild weather & no snow, especially when hiking with kids. Higher elevations in RMNP see snowfall as early as September. While the snow is beautiful on the peaks, it isn’t as fun to hike through. Planning your visit around the seasons can be an important factor to a successful trip!
Our Hiking Experience
Once you hit the trail, you’ll only hike a short distance (1/2 mile) before coming to your first stop – Nymph Lake. This magical lake gets its name from the yellow lily, Nymphara polysepala, that beautifully grows on the surface of the water. Upon reaching the lake, we found a muddy bank – that the girls loved stomping around in…as well as a family of ducks. Seeing Nymph Lake in person was so stunning. With it’s crystal clear water, bright green lily pads & mountain backdrop – we could have stayed there forever.
Leaving Nymph Lake you’ll head up the trail toward Dream Lake. Traveling up this section of the trail, you’ll really notice the elevation gain. Once you reach the next plateau, make sure you turn around! Seeing how far you’ve come will take your breath away. The view of Nymph Lake from above is just as beautiful as it was from it’s banks.
Taking breaks while hiking, no matter the distance, always seems to perk up our kids. We stopped at this section of the trail, where we found a large open spot that was perfect for taking in the sights while enjoying a snack.
After we felt rested, we jumped back on the trail to Dream Lake. This section of the trail is the most extraordinary with waterfall crossings, log bridges & stunning peak views. We knew we were getting close to Dream Lake at this point!
After crossing the log bridge, Dream Lake was right around the corner. This section of the hike is extremely popular, which means it will almost always be a busy spot. The payoff of reaching Dream Lake was so rewarding! We enjoyed time sitting on the rocks overlooking the lake. The snowy mountain top reflecting into Dream Lake was all that I imagined and more!
Even though we didn’t make it all the way to Emerald Lake, experiencing our first family hike together in such a beautiful location is something we’ll always remember. We can’t wait to go back!
What To Bring On Your Hike
While hiking, we always take the 10 essentials – but wanted to highlight a few other items we found helpful on this hike.
WATER
Staying hydrated is always important, even more so when hiking. Take enough water for each member of your group, plus a little extra when going on a day hike. We warmed up quickly on our hike, so it was nice having plenty of cool water.
SUNSCREEN
Believe it or not, sunscreen is a MUST at these higher elevations. We learned this the hard way! Make sure you pack plenty of sunblock as well as a hat to keep the sun off your face.
SNACKS
Packing snacks when hiking with kids is important. Stopping for a snack break is a great way to break up the hike & keep your kiddos distracted. We like to pack nuts, trail mix & granola bars for day hikes.
OFFLINE MAPS
More than once we have found ourselves without service, having forgotten to download the offline maps. Major fail! If you know you’ll be in an area where service is sketchy (like ALL of RMNP) be sure to download maps of the whole area before you head out. This will ensure you can navigate the park without cell service anytime!
Other Things To Do Near Dream Lake
- Bear Lake Trail
- Alberta Falls Trail
- Trail Ridge Road (time marker 10:08)
READY TO HIKE THE DREAM LAKE TRAIL IN RMNP?
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