​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

Bear Lake Skiing

14 December 2003

This is a nice ski tour in Rocky Mountain National Park and doable even with a late afternoon start.  It’s a good one to skin up for – the up is all up, the down is all down.

If you can, park at the Glacier Gorge Junction so as to enjoy the return from Bear Lake to your car.  From Glacier Gorge Junction, head up the trail toward Bear Lake.  This trail sees a large amount of traffic and thus gets packed nicely and is wide enough for an easy snow plow on the way back and gentle enough for a beginner ready to try an incline.

The trail winds along, never really steep, and before long you are approaching Bear Lake.  Now your navigational skills will come in handy.  Our destination is not Bear Lake but Nymph Lake and beyond and the way is not obvious.  At the signed junction, do not take the left that says Nymph Lake but take the right toward Bear Lake.  As you approach the lake, there will be another beaten path off to the left.  Take that one.  The uphill is a bit steep and so is a nice workout.  You end up on the side of the lake, near some re-vegetation sign and the trail is similar to that of the glacier gorge to Bear Lake Trail, trees all around and no open vistas -- but don’t worry, those are coming.

Once at the re-vegetation signs, there are options.  The trail continues west toward Emerald Lake but becomes more difficult.  But don’t just turn around as there is a magic way back.  Continue south along the edge of the lake and at the south end, you’ll find another trail heading northeast and you will start down.

This downhill is fast and pleasant.  Too soon, you’ll come to the glacier gorge sign.  Take that junction and continue downhill.  Too quickly you will be back at the car.

More info on today’s trip: 
Time:               About 3 hours but I start up to Nymph Lake as described but did some other exploring as well.
Weather:          Beautiful but windy, though you would never know it since we were in the trees.
Conditions:     Perfect crunchy snow.  It had snowed the past Monday and stayed cold all week.
And:                The highlight of the trip, coming down and going up the easier side, you get this stunning view of Long’s Peak and Mills Gorge