The Jewel Lake Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is a moderately challenging hiking route, just a short distance from the town of Estes Park, Colorado.

The hike to Jewel Lake in Colorado is uphill but not overly long or difficult. You'll be rewarded with the sight of a beautiful lake surrounded by granite boulders and occasional panoramic views of Estes Park in the distance.

This guide will cover how to hike the Jewel Lake Trail, how to obtain permits and parking, where to find the trailhead in Estes Park, and everything else you need to know before you go!

Difficulty: Moderate
Jewel Lake Trail, Colorado, Hiking, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP
Jewel Lake Trail in Colorado

Jewel Lake Trail: What to Expect
The Jewel Lake Trail is short but strenuous, with an uphill climb that continues almost until you reach the lake.

This is still a family-friendly hike and a great introduction to Colorado hiking, as the elevation and overall difficulty aren't as intense as some other popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The path to the lake is dotted with pine trees and granite boulders, providing scenic views but not much shade, so you may want to wear a hat or apply sunscreen.

Jewel Lake Trail, Colorado, Hiking, Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, RMNP
Granite and Morning Reflections

Forest Trail, Mountain Trail

Mountain Trail
Preview of the Main Hiking Route

As you hike towards Jewel Lake, the trees occasionally thin out, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Estes Park and the ridges of Rocky Mountain National Park in the distance.

One particularly scenic viewpoint, located about halfway to the lake, offers a particularly stunning view.

Estes Park, Colorado
Enjoy panoramic views of Estes Park, Colorado, on your way to Jewel Lake.

Near the 1.3-mile mark, you'll see a unique rock formation with a hole in the middle, nicknamed "Paul Bunyan's Boot" because it resembles a giant hiking boot with a worn-out sole.

When you reach this rock layer, you're close to Jewel Lake. The only thing left to do is climb up a row of large stone steps. This is the most challenging part of the hike and quite exhausting.

Just before Jewel Lake, there's a small toilet on a path to the left. It's a plain old-fashioned vault toilet, but with scenic views in the background, it's the best spot to take a break before heading to the lake.

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Paul Bunyan's Boot
The rock formation known as "Paul Bunyan's Boot"

Paul Bunyan's Boot, Jewel Lake, Colorado
Paul Bunyan's Boot

Jewel Lake, Colorado
Congratulations! You've arrived at Jewel Lake in Colorado!

To be honest, the lake is quite small (more like a pond) and may not be as photogenic as some of the other lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), but I still think it's a very pretty lake.

If you go early in the morning like we did, you can capture some beautiful reflections on the lake's surface, and in my opinion, it looks more photogenic.

The photos of Jewel Lake on this page were taken around 9 AM in the summer.

Balanced Rock (Optional)
After reaching Jewel Lake, you can opt for a path to Balanced Rock, which looks somewhat like a sight seen in Utah or Arizona.

If you hike to Balanced Rock, it adds an additional 2 miles round trip from Jewel Lake, but the terrain is relatively good. The trail to Balanced Rock from Jewel Lake is downhill, so you'll have to climb back up on the return trip.

The trail to Balanced Rock is much less crowded than the Jewel Lake side and likely to be mostly solitary for much of the way. It's a shaded trail to Balanced Rock, but the scenery isn't particularly spectacular as it's surrounded by trees.

The total hiking distance from the Jewel Lake Trailhead to Balanced Rock (and back to the trailhead) is about 7 miles.

Entry Fees
For most of the year, you'll need a national park pass and a timed entry permit to visit Rocky Mountain National Park, which also applies to the Jewel Lake Trail since it's part of the park.

National park passes are easy to obtain and can be purchased online or in person. We usually buy an annual pass for visiting several U.S. parks within a year, but they also offer daily passes. More information and current fees can be found on the RMNP website.

Timed entry permits are also required to access the Jewel Lake Trail. This can be a bit of a hassle but is necessary to manage crowds in Rocky Mountain National Park. Thankfully, Jewel Lake is not part of the Bear Lake Road Corridor, so permits are easier to obtain.

There are some exceptions to this rule if you arrive very early in the morning or later in the afternoon. You can read more about timed entry permits and how to obtain them on the RMNP website.

You can also use the Google Map below to navigate directly to the parking area, which is a 5-minute drive from Estes Park and a 1.5-hour drive from Denver, Colorado.

On the map, it's called Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, as several other hiking trails also start from the same location.

Starting Point Conditions
The road from Estes Park to the Jewel Lake Trailhead is paved and in good condition, so you don't need high clearance or any special equipment to reach it.

When you arrive at the trailhead, you'll find vault toilets, trash cans, informational signs, and trail maps. There's no park ranger station or ticket booth here, but you should have your permits and passes for this hike (more on that later).

There are plenty of parking spots at the trailhead entrance, but they can fill up on busy days. We arrived at 8 AM on a weekday, and there were still plenty of spots available. This was in late August, so your experience may differ.

National Park Regulations
The Jewel Lake Trail is part of Rocky Mountain National Park, so the usual regulations of U.S. national parks apply.

As always, remember to keep the path clean, be considerate of other hikers, and leave no trace. Thank you, and have a great hike!

Best Times to Visit
Jewel Lake in Colorado is beautiful at any time of the day, but I personally think it's best to visit in the early morning.

Going in the morning helps you avoid crowds and the heat, and it's also great for photography since you can capture reflections on the lake's surface.

The Jewel Lake Trail is open year-round, but the best months to visit are from May to October, when the trail is free of snow and ice. Before you go, you can check current trail conditions on the RMNP website.