Dream Lake Winter
Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake Winter
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF DREAM LAKE WINTER
Dream Lake is the quintessential alpine lake in the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park. The lake, situated just below the towering monolith of Hallett Peak, is an iconic spot accessible year round. The hike is a little more difficult in the winter, especially after a fresh snow, but it’s stunningly beautiful.
Photos and location summary by Rick Berk
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH DREAM LAKE WINTER SUMMARY
This trail is a big variable in the winter. When there’s fresh snow, I would rate the trail as Challenging. My first hike up to Dream Lake was immediately after a fresh snowfall, and while there was about 6-8 inches of fresh snow at the trailhead, it became almost two feet of snow just before reaching the lake. A part of the trail that hugs the mountainside was completely obscured. I opted to turn back as it would have meant a long slide down back toward Nymph Lake, and would have been extremely difficult to get back to the trail. When we visited a couple of days later, we could see where other hikers had missed the trail and fallen.
However, once the trail has been packed down a bit, it becomes much easier and I would rate it as moderate. After fresh snow, snow shoes are recommended, and once that snow is packed down, I recommend microspikes to assist with footing. Headlamps are also useful, as for sunrise you’ll be hiking up in the dark and at sunset, coming down in the dark.
This location is good both at sunrise and sunset. At sunrise, the sun comes up behind you and if you’re early enough, alpenglow will light up the peaks. At sunset, the sun sets behind Hallett Peak. Wide angle lenses and telephotos will both be at home here, as you can capture the entire scene as well as zoom in tight on details when you prefer.
The lake freezes from October thru early spring. You’ll want to ensure the ice thickness before venturing out. When I was there in mid-January, the ice looked to be at least two feet thick. This gives you the opportunity to work the frozen ice ripples, or the rocks that are prevalent on the south side of the lake for use as a foreground.
Wide angle, standard midrange zoom, and telephoto. A macro lens is also helpful for making images of the bubbles and cracks in the ice.
16-35mm at 16mm
xxx Ft. Elevation
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KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
