After hiking out to Emerald Lake, I returned to circle Bear Lake before catching the trail down to Bierstadt Lake. Geologically speaking the lake is unique - rather than being formed while a glacier receded (as Nymph, Dream, and Emerald did), it is found on top of a lateral moraine. As glaciers grow and carve out valleys, they often push up rocks and dirt alongside and ahead of themselves, creating great hills of debris; these are moraines. The Bierstadt Moraine is nearly 1,000ft tall - starting at Bear Lake (at an elevation of 9,475ft) means an easy hike of mostly downhill.
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East shore of Bierstadt Lake, looking out towards the Continental Divide. Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes lie between Hallett and Flattop (right two peaks).
Also visible are three of the five glaciers still found in the park.
(Click for larger Panorama) |
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| Peeking out at Bierstadt, with Hallett Peak right in the middle |
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| Thatchtop, Taylor, Otis, Hallett, and Flattop |
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| The surprising sandy shores of the eastern part of Bierstadt. |
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| Looking out at Thatchtop while hiking down the lateral moraine. Surrounded by Aspen trees, I imagine this must be really quite gorgeous in Autumn. |
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