Bear Lake Photos

Bear Lake Sunrise		Bear Lake WInter		Bear Lake Sunet

Situated below Hallet Peak and the Continental Divide, Bear Lake is in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. Bear Lake is one of the most visited and most photographed locations in Rocky Mountain National Park. There is a hiking trail around the lake that is handicap accessible. Bear Lake is a popular destination and trailhead so expect crowds in the summer; the parking lot is often full by 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning.

Lakeshore trail at Bear Lake is the most visited trail in Rocky Mountain National Park because of the hiking trail’s convenient access from Bear Lake Road. The hike is an easy half-mile loop provides beautiful views of the high mountains surrounding the lake.

Bear Lake is a great place to get dramatic photographs of Longs Peak, the highest mountain in the park. Bear Lake can also provide great opportunities to take photos of Hallett Peak and Flattop Mountain.

For the more adventurous hikers, some of the best autumn views in Rocky Mountain National Park can be found high up amongst the boulders on the north end of Bear Lake. You'll have to climb on large boulders amongst the aspen to get the best view of Bear Lake and Longs Peak, so be careful of your digital camera equipment and yourself.

Rocky Mountain National Park is northwest of Boulder, Colorado. The national park features rugged mountains, vast forests, lakes and alpine tundra. The best time to take photos and pictures of mountains and lakes is at sunrise or sunset. It is home to a wide array of wildlife including elk, moose, bears, wolves, bald eagles as well as other birds. There is easy access to back-country trails for hiking, back packing, rock climbing and camping. Wildflowers such as columbine, sunflowers, iris and pasqueflowers grow in the spring and summer.

July and August are the warmest months of the year to go on vacation in Rocky Mountain National Park, making it a good time to take photos and pictures. Thunderstorms often come up in the afternoons and can be quite dangerous. Be sure to get yourself and camera equipment below tree line to seek shelter. Heavy winter snows begin around mid-October, and last into May.

Camera Equipment Used in Photos

These photos were taken with a Canon EOS 5D and a EF17-40mm F/4L USM or a Digital rebel XT 18-55mm kit lens.  Nikon shooters will prefer a D3 or a D90.  Other full frame  or APS-C cameras such as the Nikon d300 or Canon 7D will work as well.  Many landscape photographers  consider   a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens an essential piece of camera equipement.  This lens is available for most digital cameras including DSLRs  from Leica, Pentax , Sony, Sigma and Olympus.