Colorado's Pristine, Crystal-Clear Alpine Lake Is A Breathtaking Rocky Mountain Gem

The majestic Rocky Mountains extend from New Mexico all the way to Canada. However, no U.S. state is as closely associated with the Rockies as Colorado. With most of the range's highest mountaints (including 58 "14er" peaks — i.e., those over 14,000 feet in elevation), Colorado boasts extraordinary beauty unsurpassed by any state in the lower 48. While you can find plenty of incredible mountain parks throughout the Centennial State, Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park is the West's brightest gem for outdoor adventures. This renowned park features a seemingly endless collection of breathtaking mountain views. However, few attractions within the area combine magnificent scenery and exceptional hiking adventures quite like Rocky Mountain National Park's unforgettable Dream Lake.

Dream Lake more than lives up to its name with some of the most gorgeous scenery in the entire National Park System. The lake's crystal-clear waters alone make it a truly striking shot for professional photographers and amateur sightseers alike. When you add the towering mountain peaks and lush alpine forests surrounding the lake's shores, you get a view that seems almost deliberately engineered to be as soul-stirring as possible. Plus, Dream Lake sits within a cluster of several other pristine mountain lakes, all linked by a network of well-trodden but epic hiking trails. Taken together, all of these factors make Dream Lake one of Colorado's best hiking destinations and among the National Park Service's most valuable treasures.

Dream Lake's monumental beauty is difficult to describe in words, but, as far as a description is possible, it sits within a spectacular high-altitude alpine valley surrounded by dramatic mountain cliffs. The lake (as well as the rest of Rocky Mountain National Park) is part of Colorado's grandiose Front Range, an east-oriented subrange of the Rockies marking the range's first abrupt ascent from the Great Plains to the east. The Front Range's mountainous topography creates numerous valleys and gorges between its towering peaks, which allow mountain lakes like Dream Lake to form. Dream Lake itself sits within a particularly scenic mountain gorge between Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain, two of the most visually stunning peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

This surrounding "real estate" is one of the main reasons why Dream Lake is such an iconic Rocky Mountain National Park destination. From the lake's shores, you can get picture-perfect shots of the 12,721-foot Hallett Peak and its distinct triangular profile against the surrounding mountains. Nearby, the formidable Tyndall Gorge — and its namesake alpine glacier — adds a layer of elemental power over the otherwise tranquil lakeside scenery. The lake itself sits at around 9,900 feet in elevation, giving it a notable "mountain air" while still being low enough to provide a ravishing alpine forest to complement the peaks. In fact, Dream Lake is a perfect example of the Rocky Mountains' subalpine ecosystem, which thrives between elevations of 9,000 and 11,000 feet. Dream Lake's shores are home to magical groves of evergreen trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, which make the spot even more beautiful. To top it all off, Dream Lake is surrounded by other exquisite mountain lakes, including Nymph Lake, Emerald Lake, and Bear Lake.

Dream Lake is unsurprisingly the centerpiece of one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most popular trails. The main hike to Dream Lake begins at the Bear Lake Trailhead, off the park's Bear Lake Road. From the parking lot, the Dream Lake Trail covers a moderately challenging 2 miles. If you're looking to see Dream Lake alone, the full out-and-back hike should only take you around 90 minutes. However, you can also combine the Dream Lake Trail with other great hikes to nearby lakes. 

The combined Bear Lake and Nymph Lake trail is one of the world's most beautiful hikes, while also being easy enough (at only 5 miles) for most hikers to manage. The Dream Lake Trail also merges with the longer trails to Lake Haiyaha and the neighboring Emerald Lake, both comprehensive tours of the most captivating lakes around the Tyndall Gorge. The trailhead to Dream Lake is just off the Bear Lake Road Corridor, so you can give your feet a rest on a memorable scenic drive.

For all its pristine natural splendor, the Dream Lake Trail is only a 90-minute drive from Boulder, and two hours from Denver International Airport. Note that a special timed entry permit is required for access to Bear Lake Road between May and October. During this season, however, the park operates a free shuttle service to Bear Lake Road between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (at the time of writing). Bear Lake Road also provides access to many of the park's camping areas, particularly the Glacier Basin and Moraine Park Campgrounds. Of course, the nearby town of Estes Park provides plenty of lodging and amenities as well, including the famous (and possibly haunted) Stanley Hotel.