For those wanting to complete the hike and see all three of these beautiful lakes, continue on the trail to Emerald Lake.
This section of the trail has a lot of log stairs and is the toughest portion of the hike. You’ll reach an elevation of over 10,000 feet and hiking at this elevation can make you breathless if you aren’t acclimated to it. Take it slow and rest as needed.
The distance from Dream to Emerald Lake is another 0.6 miles. This section of the trail offers stunning scenery including meadows, small waterfalls, streams, and wildflowers. Continue to follow the trail signs to reach Emerald Lake.
Once you feel as if you don’t want to see another stair in your life, you reach the picturesque landscape surrounding Emerald Lake. Here hikers are met with views of Tyndall Gorge, Flattop Mountain, and sparkling Emerald Lake.
The total distance from the Bear Lake Trailhead to Emerald Lake is 3.6 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 702 feet from the trailhead.
It is much faster heading back to the parking area as the trail is mostly downhill. Just don’t forget to look around at the picturesque landscapes surrounding the trail to get a different angle!
Overall this hike takes anywhere from 2-3 hours depending on stops and hiking abilities.
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