A scenic paved road to the alpine Bear Lake in CO

Bear Lake is an alpine lake at an elevation of 2.893m (9,491ft) above the sea level, located in Larimer County, in the U.S. state of Colorado. The road to the picture-postcard lake, sitting at the base of the Continental Divide, is usually open in winter.

Bear Lake Road

Where is Bear Lake in Colorado?

Set high in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the lake is located on the northern part of Colorado, 13 miles southwest of Estes Park.

Can you drive to Bear Lake in Colorado?

The beautiful road to the lake is totally paved. It’s called Bear Lake Road. The road ends in the Bear Lake parking lot, an ample parking lot close to the lake. Originally built in 1928, in 2012 the road surface was improved, widened the lanes and rerouted some parts.

Is the road to Bear Lake in Colorado busy?

More than 2 million visitors a year are estimated to drive on Bear Lake Road. Traffic can be heavy during the summer months and on a summer weekend the parking lot, which holds several hundred cars, is full before 9:00 AM. There are rest rooms a few yards from the parking lot for summer visitors.

How long is Bear Lake Road?

The road is 14.96km (9.3 miles) long, starting from US-36 highway at 2.505m asl. The elevation gain is 388 meters. The average gradient is 2.59%.

Is Bear Lake Road Open?

The road is usually open year-round and plowed all year, though it may temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions and after a big storm. At this elevation Bear Lake freezes in the winter. Road conditions in and around the park can change quickly, particularly in the spring and fall.
Pic: dhart1952