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Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park

4.7

#1 of 49 in Parks in Rocky Mountain National Park

Water Body Nature / Park Must See

• ©

The second-largest natural freshwater lake in Utah, Bear Lake has been nicknamed Caribbean of the Rockies because of the piercing turquoise color of its water. Limestone deposits reflecting in the water are the cause of the distinctive blue color of this 250,000-year-old lake. This lake and its surrounding area offer recreational activities year-round, from fly-fishing and Jet-Skiing in the water, to skiing on the snowy nearby slopes in the colder months. You can also spot plenty of wildlife and birds here, and the area is known for its raspberries. To visit Bear Lake on your trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, use our Rocky Mountain National Park trip maker .

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Bear Lake Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1,513 reviews

Google

4.8

• By Jamil_Sayed

  Easy walk ! Beautiful view ! Good for photography ! Elevation of 9,450 feet ! We spend a long time beside the Bear Lake. Just halted and seated leisurely. We found the quite easy loop around the lake....  more »

• By Canadianstraveling

  We spent a day in late September 2018 hiking in the Bear Lake area of RMNP. We arrived early enough on a weekday (about 9:00 A.M.) to get one if the last parking spaces in the Park & Ride lot and afte...  more »

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Google

• By John Koehn

  A great spot for a picnic. An easy hike around the lake for kids and a trailhead for many other fun hikes.

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• By Alex Guerra

  Beautiful. Great trails for hiking. Great views. Family friendly. Free shuttle buses. You will get a work out. Bring a hat, sun tan lotion, and water for the trails. A must place to visit. Highly recommend.

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