National Park Service Rocky Mountain U.S. Department of the Interior Rocky Mountain National Park

Bear Lake Winter Trail Guide

Exploring the outdoors in winter is undeniably magical. It is also challenging. Use this map and guide to plan a safe, enjoyable trip.

Tips for a Navigating in Winter Can Be Hard Watch for Hypothermia Great Hike Park trails are not marked or maintained for When your body loses heat faster than it can winter use. You can’t rely on others’ tracks— produce it, your body temperature begins to they may have been headed somewhere else or drop. This is an emergency medical condition made a wrong turn. To find your way in winter: called hypothermia. It is serious and can be • Have and know how to use a topographic fatal. map and compass. When used correctly, GPS units can also be helpful. Symptoms include shivering, drowsiness, • Discuss your plans with park staff at visitor exhaustion, loss of coordination, impaired centers and trailhead kiosks. judgment, and slurred or incoherent speech.

Be Avalanche Aware Wear warm, quick-drying layers of clothes. Avalanches can be easily triggered by back- Stay dry. Take frequent stops to warm up. If country travelers. symptoms occur, warm the chilled person with • Visit avalanche.state.co.us/ for the latest ava- dry clothing and warm, non-alcoholic liquids. lanche forecast. If danger is high, consider Get back to your car, and promptly seek medi- staying home. cal attention. • Avoid traveling in steep gullies and on ridge tops. Open slopes of 30 to 45 degrees can be Bring the Right Gear 3 loaded with dangerous masses of snow. 3Wear layers of synthetic or wool clothing that wick moisture. • If you choose to travel in these areas, carry 3 an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. 3Take extra layers of clothing (socks However, don’t take extra risks just because included). you are carrying this equipment. 33Bring windproof outer layers, a warm hat, • If caught in an avalanche, make swimming and warm gloves or mittens. motions and try to stay on top of the snow. 33Wear sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunlight can damage your eyes and skin even on cold Pay Attention to Weather and Conditions days. Expect snow, gusty winds, and cold tempera- 3 tures at any time. Winter days are short—start 3Drink lots of water and eat high- early and plan conservatively. energy snacks.

Streams and lakes can have thin ice and be Follow the Rules, Practice Good Etiquette very dangerous. If you choose to cross, first Sledding is not allowed at . Please test your steps with a pole. go to the Hidden Valley Snowplay Area, the only place in Rocky where sledding is Only travel off-trail if you are extremely famil- permitted. iar with the area. Snow-covered landscapes look very different than in summer. Snow can Don’t walk or snowshoe in ski tracks: it cre- be deep once you are off-trail. ates dangerous conditions for skiers.

You must be in control at all times and let others know when you’re approaching them. Yield to those traveling faster than you. Pass with care.

For More Park Information...... (970) 586-1206 or www.nps.gov/romo Information Status...... (970) 586-1222 Emergencies ...... 911. Tell the dispatcher you are in Rocky Mountain National Park, BL-W 10-2017 Trail Ridge Road to Hidden Valley Rocky can be busy on winter weekends. Upper Beaver Meados Snowplay Area No To B Estes Park Congestion on roads, in parking areas, and along popular trails is vehicles beyond Bear Lake Corridor Trails possible. Parking areas can ll by mid-morning. Consider carpooling gate to the trailhead. Moraine Park Beaver Meados ampround isitor enter To Lake Helene To .mi .km .mi .mi .km .km u Lake Bear Lake .mi Moraine Park .km Discovery enter rea Trails Closed in winter .mi No vehicles .km .mi beyond gate To Moraine Park .km To Flattop Mtn and Trail Ridge Rd .mi .km MORAINE PARK .mi .mi Bear Lake Loop The .mi .km .km .mi Pool .km .km .mi .mi .mi Bear Lake .km .km Bear Lake .km 9475ft .mi Fern .mi 2888m Trailhead .km Steep Mountain L .km Falls Cub Lake Tuedo Park A Spruce B Lake 207

v .mi Loomis .km Holloell Lake a Fern .mi Park Lake .km Nymph Mount Wuh Gabletop l Lake 1071 Glacier Basin .mi Mountain 20 Glacier Gore 11 a .mi .km ampround Closed to camping To .km Trailhead ast n .mi .mi .km Odessa Portal .mi Lake .km Bierstadt Park Ride .km To Sprague c Lake .mi .km Lake 0 01 02 0 .mi Knobtop h .km Mountain Bierstadt 0 01 02 0 To Alberta Falls 121 e .mi .mi .mi .km 7 .km .mi .km Lake .km .mi .km Notchtop Two Rivers BR L R Mountain Lake .mi 1212 Helene Lake .km DESTINATION DISTANCE ELEVATION GAIN 7 .mi Spraue .km Lake one way from nearest TH mi km ft m .mi .mi .km .km Alberta Falls 0.8 1.3 160 49 .mi Flattop Mtn Dream .mi .km Bear Lake Loop 0.5 0.8 20 6 122 Emerald .km 7 Lake from Bear Lake Bierstadt Lake Lake Trailhead 2.3 3.7 -34 -10 d a l l G o y n r g e .mi T .km .mi Cub Lake 2.3 3.7 540 165 .km .mi To Ranger Station Dream Lake 0.8 1.3 425 130 MARKERS NOT MAINTAINED 1271 .mi ail .km 7 Tr .km r Alberta Lake e .mi Emerald Lake 1.5 2.4 605 184 t

Haiyaha n Falls

.mi i .km .km

n W 3.8 6.1 1,375 419 y o a n s C Lake Helene 2.9 4.7 1,215 370 a o C h Mills Lake 1.8 2.9 750 229 D .mi .mi .km .km Nymph Lake 0.5 0.8 225 69 a .mi To Longs Peak Otis Peak .km Half Mtn Ranger Station Loop 0.5 0.8 20 6 12 n 112 0 The Loch .mi 00 The Loch 2.1 3.4 990 302 E .km g L Mills A V Lake The Pool 2.5 4.0 245 75 Andrews e Tarn Andrews Timberline G Jewel L Glacier r Falls Lake A All Glacier Gorge trails can be accessed from C I H Thatchtop E Bear Lake. Add 0.1 miles to trail distance. C Lake of R 12

O L Glass 1

Sky Pond Shelf 0 0 1 Shuttle buses do not operate in winter. Taylor Peak G

11 Lake O

00 R 0 0 1 Solitude G High risk avalanche areas are marked, but avalanches Lake E can happen almost anywhere in this area.

To Black Lake