About Odessa Lake
Odessa Lake sits at 10,020 feet between the Bear Lake and Fern Lake sides of the park. The lake is listed here as 4.0 miles one-way from either Bear Lake Trailhead or Fern Lake Trailhead, and the route is hard by this site's difficulty scale.
Its position is what makes Odessa interesting. It is not just a lake at the end of a trail; it is a hinge between basins, often visited as part of the Fern-Odessa corridor rather than as a simple out-and-back.
NPS wilderness-site data also lists Odessa Lake in the Bear Lake Area: 4.1 miles from the trailhead, 540 feet of elevation change, an average snow-free date of June 28, and a site elevation of 10,020 feet.
🚻 Restroom available at the Bear Lake TH or Fern Lake TH trailhead. Flush toilets at the parking lot. Year-round when road is open.
