Lake Haiyaha, Colorado
Total Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 846 feet
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderate
The Hike: Although less popular than some of the other lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park, Lake Haiyaha truly is an oasis in the mountains. After the mostly uphill hike to the lake, many hikers take time to lounge on the massive boulders around the lake’s bright green and blue waters, or even cast a line while eating lunch on the shores.
The hike to the lake is full of sweeping views, babbling streams, and picturesque pine forests. Upon reaching the lake, hikers will need to scramble over towering boulders to reach the lake’s shores, but once standing at the edge of the sparkling water, this lake is a peaceful place to take a break and eat lunch.
Lake Haiyaha can easily be added onto your hike to Dream and Emerald Lakes, for a day full of stunning Rocky Mountain alpine lakes.
The Details: Start at the Bear Lake Trailhead, which gets crowded at all times during the year. We recommend being in the parking lot before 7am on summer days, and by 7:30am in the winter months. Want to sleep in? No problem – there is a free visitor’s shuttle that will take you to the trailhead. To use the shuttle, simply park at the “Park and Ride” across from the Glacier Basin Campground (40°19'47.3"N, 105°36'00.1"W)
Once at Bear Lake, follow signs towards Dream, Emerald, and Haiyaha lakes. Follow this trail for about 1 mile until you reach the intersection between Lake Haiyaha and Dream Lake. Dream Lake will be about .1 mile from this intersection, so it’s worth it to walk a few minutes out of the way to take a peak. If you want to see Emerald Lake as well, follow the Dream Lake Trail for another .7 miles (1.4miles total to Emerald Lake and back, from the trail intersection).
Once finished in the Dream and Emerald Lakes area, keep hiking uphill toward Lake Haiyaha. The trail will switchback up a mountain for a little bit before bringing hikers to sweeping trailside-mountain views. Once the trail levels off, hikers can enjoy walking along this high-altitude trail which is dotted with pine trees, marmots, and endless views of Glacier Gorge.
After walking for a few more minutes, hikers will be brought to the base of massive boulders. Use caution, and scramble over these boulders until you reach the lake. Once finished at the lake, retrace your steps back down to the Bear Lake Parking Area.
Gear: For this hike, we recommend bringing along either the Winter or Summer Day Hike Essentials, depending on the season. Micro-spikes or Snowshoes are strongly advised in the winter.
*The information in this article is for planning purposes only. Actual trail conditions may vary depending on environmental factors. It is always advised to get the latest trail information from a park office or ranger before you begin your hike.