Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park During A Blizzard

I moved to Colorado in August of 2022. Several months later, in November, with my partner and a friend from out of state visiting we decided to visit Rocky Mountain National Park and hike around some of the frozen lakes along the Bear Lake Corridor.

One of the benefits of hiking in November (especially in Colorado) is that there are far fewer people to contend with. While we didn't have the park or the trail all to ourself, we also only had to share it with 4 or 5 other groups.

One of the downsides of hiking in November is that the weather can be unpredictable, one day it could be so sunny you could get some tan lines and then next day it will be so cold you could get frostbite. It can be so extreme that the forecast may even change on the drive from Denver up to the national park. This means bringing more gear to the trailhead and going along for whatever ride mother nature throws your way.

Another downside to hiking in November is that regardless of the weather for the day, you will almost certainly be hiking in the snow. Whether it's mostly packed down or fresh powder you will need to contend with more slippery conditions. Microspikes are a must pack item and trekking poles can come in handy as well.

Setting Out For The Day

We started our day fairly early, leaving from Southeast Denver around 6 a.m. to start our hour and a half drive northwest to the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance. We did make one pitstop at Coffee On The Rocks to grab some coffee, a small breakfast, and to feed the ducks. From that point it was a short five minute drive to the park entrance followed by a fifteen minute drive to the Bear Lake trailhead parking lot.

We started out by hiking around Bear Lake which is one of the most popular destinations in the park. It's easily accessible from the parking lot taking just a minute or two to reach and regardless of your mobility you would have little trouble making it here during the summer months. When there is snow covering the trail it's a bit trickier to get to, but nonetheless almost everyone can make it to this lake just a few minutes after finding parking (which truthfully is the more difficult task here).

Once we checked Bear Lake off our list we set our sights to Nymph Lake. This would be a forgettable lake if not for the elevation gain it takes to get here. Getting to this lake always gives me trouble and I always stop for a break to catch my breath. I'm not sure if the elevation gain is really that bad or if it's just because I spent an hour and a half in the car going from 5,000 to 9,500 feet and am still getting acclimated. Nonetheless, this is the most challenging part of the hike.

The lake itself is quite small for any alpine lake but feels especially tiny when you came from Bear Lake twenty minutes prior. In the summer this lake has quite a few lili pads and truthfully isn't much to look at. This is a stopping point on your way to Dream Lake (which itself is a stopping point on your way to Lake Haiyaha or Emerald Lake).

This day was no different, it was simply a stopping point for us as we made our way towards Dream Lake. The trail conditions quickly deteriorated from here. While I didn't need to catch my breath I found myself needing to plan every step. We ran into an older gentleman from Loveland who hikes the lake weekly. We asked him how Lake Haiyaha was looking and he warned us that conditions were too treacherous as the snow covered rock scramble towards the end could easily lead to a broken ankle.

We decided to continue on towards Dream Lake to at least see one more larger lake tucked away in the mountains.

We spent several minutes at Dream Lake before we decided to turn around. There was too much wind and snow to contend with.

On our way back down to Bear Lake we ended up getting some different views of the mountains. I don't remember who said it but when it comes to photography, sometimes the best picture is the one behind you, and on this particular hike that couldn't be more true.

As we were walking back around Nymph Lake I ended up stopping on the side opposite to where I photographed the Stellar's Jay to get some spectacular photos of some mountain peaks.

I was blown away by the landscape I saw in front of me. This was not the Nymph Lake that I remember walking past just 30 minutes prior. Oftentimes I will say "photos do not do the mountains justice" but this was quite possibly the first set of photos I captured that did just that. Back in 2022 I had no idea what I was doing in Lightroom so the photos themselves are minimally edited. The snow blowing across the frozen lake is how it was captured by the camera.

After this hike I was hooked on photography and I cannot wait to share more of my trips with all of you.

Gear Used

For those interested in what gear I used for this trip I'm including as comprehensive of a list as I can put together. If you make a purchase from these links I may receive a portion of the revenue without increasing the price you pay.

Photography Gear

• Sony A7IV, used for capturing the photos of the mountains.
• Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG DN Art Lens, one of my most used lenses in general for it's versatility and relatively light weight.
• Peak Design Everyday Backpack, a small backpack that's great for packing all of the gear you need for short trips.

Hiking Gear

• Canada Goose Parka, I don't remember which one I got, but it was originally purchased 6+ years ago as a buy once, cry once purchase. These are amazingly warm and great for especially cold hikes.
• Microspikes, these are a must have if you're going to walk on packed snow and ice.
• REI Traverse Trekking Poles, I bring these on almost every hike, I don't always use them but they are better to have and not need than to need and not have.