Hallett Peak – A Perfect Rocky Mountain Day Hike

Hallett Peak is a fun and challenging climb that makes for a great day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.


Hallett Peak

Situated along the Continental Divide, Hallett Peak reaches a height of 12,720 feet (3,877 m). Adjacent to the summit is the smaller Flattop Mountain as well as the slightly taller Otis Peak. The climb to the top is non-technical and makes for a great day hike when visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. The trailhead begins at Bear Lake and is a relatively easy climb, gaining around 3,400 feet in just under five miles.

Hallett Peak

Before You Go

Getting to the trailhead can be a challenge due to its location at the end of the Bear Lake corridor of the national park. The park requires timed-entry permits in peak season which can be difficult to come by. Additionally, a regular permit is not enough; the park has a timed-entry permits with the added Bear Lake Road access attached—this is the permit necessary to access the trailhead.

If you are unable to plan your hike far in advance or there are no permits available, the park releases a limited number of permits the night before. This is how I snagged a permit, logging on just before the permits were released on Recreation.gov and having my account already set up and ready to go. The timed entry permits go fast when the clock strikes. Within a few minutes, they were all gone, however, you can try waiting five minutes and trying again. Sometimes a few people don’t go through with their permit and you might see a few available (this worked on another visit to the park).

Once you have your permit, you can access Bear Lake Road, however, the parking lots fill up quickly. I ended up having to park in the main lot along Bear Lake Road and ride the park shuttle bus to the trailhead. This can be time consuming, as I had to wait 30minutes in line for the bus.

Bear Lake

The Hike

After reaching Bear Lake, we started off at the Bear Lake Trailhead for our 9.7-mile hike, roundtrip, hike. It was around 10am and the morning was a bit misty so I was glad to have a rain jacket to keep me warm and dry. After less than half a mile, we reached the turn off for the Flattop Mountain Trail, which we joined and began climbing steadily toward treeline.

Flattop Mountain Trail
Flattop Mountain Trail

Eventually we reached two different overlooks, high above Dream Lake and then Emerald Lake. The sun came out and made for a stunning view.

Emerald Lake Overlook
Emerald Lake overlook

Soon after, we climbed above treeline and were treated to gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains all around. Some marmots came out to frolic among the wildflowers and keep us company.

Above treeline
Above treeline

The trail wasn’t quite as steep as we rounded over Flattop Mountain and eventually reached a turnoff where the Tomahutu and North Inlet Trails veered off. The track up to Hallett Peak is unnamed but clear to follow with cairns marking the way.

Hallett Peak and trail sign
Hallett Peak and trail sign

After about four hours, we at last reached the summit of Hallett Peak at 12,720 ft (3,877 m). The panoramic views were spectacular. Longs Peak, the tallest in the park, dominated the skyline. Only a hundred or so feet taller than Hallett Peak was Otis Peak, just across a saddle. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to tackle that one. After enjoying the views for almost an hour, it was clear the weather was changing.

View from the summit
View from the summit with Longs peak dominating the sky.

Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common in the Rocky Mountains and this day was no exception. The amazingly sunny skies quickly turned angry and the wind blew a storm towards us much too quickly. We had overstayed our welcome and began a brisk pace down the mountain.

Moose on the trail
Moose on the trail

As we neared the Flattop Mountain Trail junction, we came upon three male moose. They preferred to walk on the trail rather than surrounding rocky terrain. We also preferred to follow the trail but didn’t want to get too close, lest we be charged by an angry moose.

Moose crossing
Moose crossing

We were forced to step off trail and make a wide loop around the moose to give them a safe distance. From there, we continued our mad dash downward.

Storm clouds rolling in
Storm clouds rolling in

Sure enough, the storm caught up to us and unleashed a downpour and then some hail. We were still above treeline and I was terrified of being struck by lightning. We encountered one lone hiker heading up and I urged him to turn around. The three of us continued hurriedly down until we eventually reached safety below treeline.

Soaked after the rain

As quick as it came, the storm continued on and the skies cleared once more. I was utterly soaked but thankful to be alive. From there, we headed back to Bear Lake, with temperatures dropping and giving me a chill. But we had succeeded in our hike, wet as we were!

Overall, Hallett Peak is a fantastic day hike in Rocky Mountain National Park that I highly recommend. At 9.7 miles roundtrip, it’s easy to navigate and not too difficult for the average hiker. Just make sure to plan ahead with the permits!

For more Colorado adventures, be sure to check out my week of backpacking the Colorado Trail!


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