Lake Haiyaha from the Bear Lake Trailhead. 3.9 RT, 865 Elevation Gain, 5.63 Difficulty Level, 10,244 Max Elevation
(36 images)
Us worldly hikers (NOT) pushed ourselves a little bit further on this hike. Each hike we go further, higher, with higher levels of difficulty. I actually hiked three times within an eight-day period – with different people each time. I need more! It’s like a rush to explore all the natural beauty out in the world! This trip I explored with my brother and his sister-in-law.
I choose the trails by level of difficulty. I know that I can hike around 4 miles RT (round trip), so I keep referring to this website for hiking info in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s provenquite handy. There are trails on it that are 13+ miles RT. Will I ever get to that level? Keep in mind my damaged lungs! As long as I go slow, take breaks and pictures, I think I’ll be ok. Just need to build my endurance up.
The day that we chose to hike to Lake Haiyaha was a gloomy one for the most part.We passed by Dream Lake, which we’d seen on our hike to Emerald Lake acouple of months back. The difference between these two gloomy hikes was that it didn’t rain on us this time (except a couple drops at one point). The clouds were also higher, so we saw more of the scenery. It was almost like a hot flash day. Sweatshirt on, sweatshirt off. Even my brother did that.
Nymph Lake
There was clumps of color below. I wanted to hike where the color was. Two hikes later I would. I have another image of this area from higher up which you’ll see further down in the post.
Dream Lake
Trail on the edge!
Here’s the other image. I wish I knew which lakes these were. If someone knows, please comment below.
A closer view.
You have to cross this boulder field to get to the lake.
You need to go underneath the tree on the left to get to the lake.
Cool lookin’, smooth, part of the tree.
Lake Haiyaha
Every so often we’d see people on the trail, but once we arrived, there were a bunch of people resting, picnicking, and enjoying the view.
Lake Haiyaha
Steller’s Jay
During our hike to Alberta Falls a couple of Winters ago, we saw one of these guys. At that time, he was in a tree, and I never would have guessed how not afraid of people they are when they want food. On accident someone had dropped a couple ofpeanuts and didn’t pick them up, so he flew down to get them. BTW feeding wildlife in the National Park is against the law.
Steller’s Jay
This is a blurry shot, but it’s pretty cool how I captured his wings open!
I looked down to see what this was, and discovered that it was a poor bat that had died.
This sweetie is 8 mos old and he went hiking with his Daddy. Gotta love a parent who is adventurous enough to take their little ones!
Because we had gotten there when we usually do (which is considered late to some people – 10am), we had to take the Park and Ride bus. We’ve taken it before. On this particular day it wasn’t too crowded on either trip. My brother is in the foreground and his sister-in-law is in the far ground sleeping. She has no problem doing that no matter where she is!
Bear Lake Trailhead has restroom facilities.
Carol,so enjoy all your beautiful photos! Thanks for being an inspiration to me to somehow make it to one of Colorados parks for a hike . Bucket list # 2 for me! Mrs F
Thank you so much and you WILL hike here sometime! 🙂 Much love and prayers to you.
A lot of people hike Rocky Mountain, so there’s a good chance you’ll meet some one on the trail. The hike to Lake Haiyaha is one of the more popular ones.
Well let me tell ya, so glad my sister-in-law and I ran into someone two hikes after this, because she led us the wrong way on our way to Mills Lake!
That’s a someone you don’t want to run into on the trail – leading you the wrong way. I was a little old fashioned in that I always carried a paper map when I hiked a lot.
I had a map, but forgot it in the car. We were only about 10 yards off track but I knew something was wrong. if we wouldn’t have seen the Nan. we would have turned around and went back to trailhead. I carry a whistle with me though. 🙂