I think that this trail was good. There was a lot of wildlife that we saw. There was a moose and a mother and baby elk. Overall, it was a pretty nice hike, but the views weren't as good because of all the dead trees. If you are looking for super mountain views, I would not come here. But if you want a nice trail with some wildlife, this is the place.
There was a nice waterfall that flowed under the bridge, and we went down and sat by the water.
I think it was pretty easy because there were not too many very steep areas but we only made it to The Pool.
It you want to miss the popular times, I would go in the evening to ensure you get a parking spot. Otherwise, I would take the shuttle.
It is not a hard trail. It is a moderate level. We hiked from fern lake trail head to bear lake head. It took us about 7hours. Fern lake and Odessa lake are both nice . I personally like Odessa lake more.
Bear lake is big but very crowded. The feeling is more like a tourist park. If you like more adventures or interesting view, you should only treat bear lake as a start/trail head.
The hike to Fern Lake was wonderful. The weather was beautiful and the scenery was amazing. The lake was a bit chilly but not too chilly to take a quick dip. On our descent we encountered a moose on the trail that eventually moved off the trail allowing us to pass. This was a five star hike!
The hike to Fern Lake is pretty easy and well maintained. There are some interesting things to see: the pool, fern falls, several wildfowers, and rock features.
If you are looking for a forest hike, this isn't it. Several years ago, the park service prescribed burned the entire area. This is a good thing as it clears out the dead trees and provides valuable resources back into the soil! However, your entire hike is through burnt trees. In my opinion it is not very beautiful. If you're chasing alpine lakes, skip this one.
There are a couple of trail options to do here. We did the 13 mile loop up to Bear Lake and back past Bierstadt.
If you're doing it in the winter, snow shoes are a must. The back area by Fern Lake to Bear Lake is snow covered and deep.
