About Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is the upper lake on the classic Bear Lake to Nymph, Dream, and Emerald route. It sits at 10,109 feet in the Bear Lake Corridor, 1.8 miles one-way from Bear Lake Trailhead, after a steady climb past Nymph Lake and Dream Lake.
The setting is the reason this route is so popular: the trail enters Tyndall Gorge, follows water and forest higher into the basin, and finishes below the steep walls of Flattop Mountain. It is a moderate hike by this site's scale, but weather and crowds can still make it feel serious.
NPS identifies the Bear Lake Road Corridor as the gateway to many of the park's most visited destinations, including Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, and the short hikes toward Dream and Emerald Lakes.
🚻 Restroom available at the Bear Lake TH trailhead. Flush toilets at the parking lot. Year-round when road is open.
