Name: Gem Lake Trail
Rating: 4.3

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Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly Kids love climbing on rocks. The trail to Gem Lake is a rocky paradise lined by boulders that are perfectly arranged for climbing.

Description

Gem Lake is a popular trail that originates at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. From the parking lot, follow the trail as it ascends through rugged rock outcroppings and take in the sweeping views of Estes Park and the surrounding mountains. After just under two miles, you'll emerge at Gem Lake. This is a great place to take a breather before turning around or continuing to Balanced Rock Trail and/or Cow Creek Trail.

Descending from Gem Lake, you'll encounter the Balanced Rock Trail at mile three which branches off to the left. Follow it for views of a unique rock formation and to tack on a couple extra miles to your hike if you like.

Continuing on Gem Lake Trail, you'll descend for the next mile or so into the Cow Creek drainage before crossing the river and climbing up to Cow Creek Trail.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Rocky Mountain National Park

Shared By:

Brian Smith

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.3 from 50 votes

#1

in Estes Park

#55

Overall

4.3 from 50 votes

5 Star		40%
4 Star		46%
3 Star		14%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Estes Park

#16

in Colorado

#55

Overall

23 Views Last Month

16,507 Since Jan 8, 2015

		0%
		0%
		56%
		19%
		26%
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Photos

Looking south across Gem Lake on a calm spring morning

Jul 9, 2018 near Estes Park, CO

On the trail to Gem Lake with permission from dreamer 200

Jan 8, 2015 near Estes Park, CO

Sep 12, 2018 near Estes Park, CO

Dec 8, 2017 near Estes Park, CO

Sep 9, 2025 near Estes Park, CO

Dec 7, 2017 near Estes Park, CO

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 36 days ago

Update Conditions See History

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Check-Ins

Sep 9, 2025

Stewart Carnes

Sep 1, 2025

Tilman Giese

May 4, 2025

Andelina Tolmich

10h 43m

Dec 31, 2024

Stephen Pack

Sep 16, 2024

Danielle Maize

Sep 26, 2023

Glacel Anne

Sep 24, 2023

udo schmeling

Jul 27, 2023

Rachael Robinson

Feet hurtttt so bad and it started raining as soon as we got to the top also need to bring snacks and more water 4.6mi

Aug 25, 2022

Rosie Betenbaugh

4.6mi — 9h 57m

Aug 25, 2022

Rosie Betenbaugh

4.6mi — 9h 57m

Aug 24, 2022

James Covey

Aug 1, 2022

Anna Hacker

3.6mi — 1h 57m

Mar 19, 2022

Em Gem

Dec 25, 2021

Jody Rae

Oct 7, 2021

Allison Klein

Sep 17, 2021

paul schilling

Aug 15, 2021

George Koch

checking in at the Kump

Aug 7, 2021

Sean H

Jul 7, 2021

Hannah Knowland

Jun 10, 2021

Richard Lyon

Jun 6, 2021

Matthew Freeman

Strenuous only due to the incline, moderate payoff in the end. Only went to the lake and back. Parking was quite a pain at mid day 3.5mi — 2h 30m

May 26, 2021

David Cohen

Great trail, a lot of great views.A lot of friendly chipmunks by the lake lol. Trail was highly trafficked. Not that hard.

May 1, 2021

Nicole Arendt

Apr 12, 2021

Anne Cowles

Apr 4, 2021

Lauren Purkhiser

Just to gem lake and back, some ice

Mar 28, 2021

Donald Blake

3h 00m

Mar 7, 2021

R Lee

Jan 8, 2021

Cynthia B.

Nov 22, 2020

Ro Lyon

to gem lake and back

Oct 3, 2020

Private User

Aug 3, 2020

Ahna Abraham

Only went to Gem Lake

Jul 29, 2020

James Heil

3.6mi — 3h 20m

Jul 24, 2020

Dani Gauch

A bit cloudy, but still a beautiful day with wonderful views

Jun 8, 2020

Reagan Morgart

Oct 11, 2019

Mike Sanders

Oct 4, 2019

Christopher Johnson

Oct 4, 2019

Anna Dinger

Sep 21, 2019

Lorelí C.J.

Sep 16, 2019

Scott Marcus

Aug 24, 2019

Scott Ell

Easy hike with some steep steps at the end. Nice place for a trail run or picnic. 3.8mi

Aug 12, 2019

Paula Mansholt

Great family friendly hike. 4.6mi

Aug 9, 2019

Rob Solomon

Aug 8, 2019

Brooke S

4.7mi — 4h 00m

Aug 4, 2019

Megan Eisenberger

4.7mi — 2h 09m

Jul 26, 2019

Russ Asman

Jul 26, 2019

Maxx Dillon

Jul 13, 2019

Hapvin Vincenzo

Jul 13, 2019

Austin Bates

Climbed rocks up at the lake 4.6mi — 1h 45m

Jul 9, 2019

Jack A

Jul 7, 2019

Aaron Stover

Jul 5, 2019

Caroline Ulczycki

Jun 8, 2019

Annette S

Jun 6, 2019

Catherine Kirby

Jun 5, 2019

Catherine Kirby

May 26, 2019

William Kleeberger

1h 45m

May 25, 2019

Ken Klothe

Apr 17, 2019

Sam F

Some steep parts, great views, Gem Lake was small 3.4mi

Mar 16, 2019

Drew Levan

Dec 28, 2018

Floyd Hartley

4.6mi

Oct 2, 2018

Art Smith

Sep 16, 2018

Peter Kuo

Sep 12, 2018

Elizabeth Falkenberg

2.3mi

Aug 16, 2018

Josh Boyles

2mi

Aug 2, 2018

Paige Statham

Aug 2, 2018

Jessica Matthews

Jul 24, 2018

Weston Hood

Jul 9, 2018

Lindsay Toenges

Jul 8, 2018

Jason Toenges

May 29, 2018

Abraham Padilla

Gem Lake trail out-and-back from Lumpy Ridge parking lot to Gem Lake. 3.6mi — 1h 30m

Apr 14, 2018

Genevieve Labadie

Only hiked to Gem Lake and back. Steps are very tough on knees. Gorgeous weather, no snow/mud. — 3h 00m

Mar 31, 2018

Mike G

Mar 27, 2018

Mike G

Feb 6, 2018

Rob Laucius

Jan 8, 2018

Phillip Jahr

Beautiful ascent.

Oct 21, 2017

Austin Dix

Hiked with Jake and Sandi. Cold and windy.

Oct 4, 2017

Sierra Galindo

Oct 3, 2017

Lindsey Hafitz

Sep 21, 2017

Brenda Cassidy

Enjoyable! I stopped a lot ali g the way to take lots of pics and spent about 30 min at the lake taking it all in. 4.5mi — 4h 00m

Aug 22, 2017

Sally Ulianich

Aug 18, 2017

Brett Langdon

Aug 10, 2017

Sara McClenning

3.5mi

Aug 10, 2017

Joan Castro

Great view despite the clouds

Jul 15, 2017

Aaron Sherman

Jul 6, 2017

Micah Gamble

Jul 4, 2017

Brittany Huls

Jul 4, 2017

Olivia Koster

Jul 1, 2017

Erin M

Jun 26, 2017

Caroline Sullivan

Jun 25, 2017

Mountain Biker

Jun 25, 2017

Yi L

Jun 20, 2017

Colin Krysl

8mi

May 23, 2017

Lizard Breath

May 6, 2017

Cyan Nowell

Apr 16, 2017

Tim Phillips

Steep climb the really nice views of Estes Park 4mi

Mar 25, 2017

Amy Nguyen

3.5mi

Mar 20, 2017

Sarah B

tougher than expected on the way up, but definitely doable. great exercise, Good views, lake wasn't all that we expected. 4.1mi

Mar 18, 2017

Robert Maestas

3.4mi

Mar 4, 2017

Nick Murray

Jan 8, 2017

Dana Pearson

Oct 4, 2016

Jason Berling

Sep 20, 2016

Sarah Roberts

Jul 16, 2016

Ken Gleason

Jul 13, 2016

Noseph Joel

Jun 20, 2016

Emma Ruggles

That was a long first hike!! — 2h 00m

Jun 1, 2016

Charli Myers Brown

So beautiful!

May 27, 2016

Marc Hilliard

May 24, 2016

Marc Hilliard

Jan 23, 2016

Nick Stygles

Nov 15, 2015

Jen Koss

May 21, 2015

Bobrunning Running

Hiked before wedding. I have done this train two other times.

Apr 10, 2015

Kayleigh Ogden

Steep, but the lake is definitely a nice payoff!

Aug 12, 2012

Mike Langenkamp

4.6mi

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Gem Lake Trail

“A steep trail that climbs to Gem Lake before descending to Cow Creek Trail. ”

4.6

7.4

Point to Point

8,839' 2,694 m

7,768' 2,368 m

1,239' 378 m

933' 284 m

9%

81%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly Kids love climbing on rocks. The trail to Gem Lake is a rocky paradise lined by boulders that are perfectly arranged for climbing.

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#55

#1

#16

#55

Photos

0 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Lumpy Ridge Short Loop

Crystal Lakes Long Loop

Lily Lake and Ridge Loop

Longs Peak - Keyhole Route

Chasm Lake

Lookout Mountain Trail

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