Dogs No Dogs
Features
Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife
Family Friendly
This hike is short enough and gradual enough to bring along young kids. You can turn around whenever you want and there are many great picnic spot along the way!
Overview
This is a short, fairly easy out-and-back that features Dream and Emerald Lakes.
Description
From the
Bear Lake trailhead, follow the signs for
Dream Lake onto this well-traveled, asphalt-sealed trail. Hiking is very easygoing along the
Dream Lake Trail as it contours at very mellow grades up the slope.
Just over 1.5 miles from the TH, you'll reach Nymph Lake, a picturesque mountain lake that makes for a good place to take in the surrounding peaks. Continuing up the trail, you'll eventually cross Tyndall Creek and come to a junction with
Lake Haiyaha Trail. Hike past this intersection to reach
Dream Lake.
Dream Lake is a spectacular, narrow lake that sits in a drainage on the rugged eastern slope of Flattop Mountain. The lake makes for a good resting point on this hike. Once you've gotten your fill at
Dream Lake, continue hiking along the trail for another mile until you reach Emerald Lake. This lake is a beautiful sight to see as it sits nestled into the rugged western face of Flattop Mountain.
From Emerald Lake, turn around and hike back the way you came to the
Bear Lake TH.
Flora & Fauna
This hike follows Tyndall Creek up towards its headwaters. Look for riparian vegetation typical of this environment including various willows, mountain alder, and water birch with dark-colored bark. In a few places, blue spruce may grow near streams and sometimes hybridize with Engelmann spruce.
Contacts
Shared By:
Brian Smith
with improvements
by Waylon Calabrese
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