Bierstadt Lake — Attraction in Estes Park

We've been visiting the park for about 10 years now and never tried this lake till last year. The hike always seemed too much as we have small kids with us so we almost always opt for easy lakes in the area. We decided to do this one day and we had 4 kids. 9, 7, 2 and a 1 year old. This was in the summer 2020 when the national park was open with reservation during the pandemic. We were cooped up for 4 months in a row so wanted to enjoy nature. I'm not sure how or if crowded during normal time but it wasn't when we went. There was maybe 3 families including us spread around the lake. I had a baby carrier for our infant and our 3 year old did the whole hike by himself. We took few pauses to enjoy the valley view as we crept up following the winding path. Once you get to the top is a pretty flat top wooded area around the lake. The lake is a little further in so you aren't done when you reach the top but it's a breeze from there. You wonder regret it. Wasn't crowded like bear lake usually is. Saw some fish in the lake and lots of beautiful ducks as well. And it's a great view and it so quiet....

The hike here from the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead starts off hard and fast. The first mile or so is a somewhat steep incline full of singletrack switchbacks with very little shade with an almost desert like landscape. After that it levels off, the path widens quite a bit and there is full cover from the trees. The trail takes on a somewhat majestic wilderness scene and is very easy going from this point till the lake. Once you reach the lake it'll be like your own personal pond, secluded from the rest of the trails. You're encompassed by large pines on all sides and have a wonderful backdrop of the surrounding mountains. Talking with other hikers, it sounds like the route from Cub...

The hike to Bierstadt Lake is one of our favorites in Rocky Mountain National Park. There are several trailheads you can start from the hike to it. A nice one is to take the park shuttle from the Bear Lake Road Park & Ride to the Bear Lake Trailhead and hike to Bierstadt Lake; then, hike down to the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead. From there you can catch the park shuttle back to the Park & Ride. There are vault toilet restrooms at both the Bear Lake Trailhead and the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead.

Highly recommended in the spring,...