“How much farther to the lake,” asked a hiker on his approach to Lake Haiyaha.
“You are almost there,” replied another hiker heading back down. “But it is full of blue algae.”
The water of Lake Haiyaha is now a unique milky shade of turquoise not commonly seen in lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park but it is not from blue algae. Rather, a rockslide on June 28, 2022, exposed glacier sediment in Chaos Canyon above Lake Haiyaha. Summer rains caused this sediment, sometimes referred to as glacial flour, to flow into the lake.
Lake Haiyaha is located at the eastern end of Chaos Canyon, a glacially created couloir that sits between the rugged south side of Hallett Peak and the glaciated west slope and long northeast ridge of Otis Peak. This four-mile roundtrip, moderately difficult hike passes three lakes – Bear, Nymph and Dream – before the trail ends at Lake Haiyaha. It takes approximately two hours to complete. You can add to the length of the hike and check off two more lakes by hiking around Bear Lake (0.6 miles) and to Emerald Lake from Dream Lake (0.6 miles).
Haiyaha, an indigenous word that means “big rocks”, tends to be a tongue twister for many. Impress your fellow hikers with the correct pronunciation: “hi-Ya-ha.”
The trail, which climbs a total of 745 feet, starts at the Bear Lake Trailhead directly behind the ranger station. At the first junction, take the left trail into the forest (the trail to the right goes to Bear Lake). Follow the trail a few hundred feet and take the right fork at the next junction (the left trail leads down to the Glacier Gorge Trail).
Continue uphill along the partially paved trail as it gently climbs through the forest to Nymph Lake. The trail follows around the north side of Nymph Lake, a pretty lake filled with lily pads and a view of Hallett Peak, located a half mile up the trail from Bear Lake. As the trail continues closer towards Dream Lake, it steepens and narrows along a set of steps and passes a pretty overlook looking east – a great place to stop for a photo.
The next section of the trail is the steepest – and the section to be most cautious about in winter as it can be prone to avalanches – but rewards hikers with an open view of Longs Peak and Glacier Gorge when you finish it.
The trail now continues past a small cascade along Tyndall Creek and then levels out as a bridge crosses the outflow from Dream Lake.
Take the small bridge to follow the trail towards Dream Lake and farther onto Emerald Lake.
Retrace the trail from Dream Lake for 0.1 miles back to the main trail where a junction marks the direction up to Lake Haiyaha.
This section of trail is steep, climbing about 250 feet to Lake Haiyaha, and has a sheer drop to the left. The trail to Dream Lake is popular, but most people do not continue to Lake Haiyaha, giving hikers a respite to enjoy the peacefulness of the forest. Be sure to stop at another overlook with wide-open views of Glacier Gorge and Longs Peak.
Stop at the shallow pond where you get your first views of the couloir. After a few photos, cross the bridge over Chaos Creek and follow the trail as views of Hallett Peak begin to rise above the forest.
Large, rugged boulders surround Lake Haiyaha so some scrambling is necessary for different views of this alpine jewel.
Lake Haiyaha can also be part of a much longer loop trail that includes Mills Lake and The Loch.
The best times to complete this hike are June through October, with wildflowers peaking in late July, fall colors peaking in late September, sunrise providing pretty light on Hallett Peak, and sunset bathing Longs Peak in color.
