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Bear Lake is a scenic trailhead and destination in Rocky Mountain National Park.[1] Sitting at an elevation of 9,450 feet (2,880 m),[2][3] the alpine lake rests beneath the sheer flanks of Hallett Peak and the Continental Divide at 40°18′48″N 105°38′54″W / 40.31324°N 105.648222°W. Several trails, from easy strolls to strenuous hikes, start from the lake. The Bear Lake Road is open year-round, though it may temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions. An ample parking lot is provided close to the lake. The Bear Lake Road is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long and starts close to the Beaver Meadows Entrance station of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
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The lake was formed during the ice age by a big chunk of ice. Several moraines can be found downhill of Bear Lake.[4]
Climate
editAt an elevation of 9500 ft (2896 m),[5] Bear Lake has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), closely bordering on a subalpine climate (Köppen Dfc).
| Climate data for Bear Lake, Colorado, 1991–2020 normals, 1989-2020 extremes: 9500ft (2896m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 54 (12) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
65 (18) |
76 (24) |
84 (29) |
87 (31) |
83 (28) |
80 (27) |
70 (21) |
63 (17) |
53 (12) |
87 (31) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 44.3 (6.8) |
45.5 (7.5) |
53.0 (11.7) |
59.5 (15.3) |
67.1 (19.5) |
75.9 (24.4) |
79.8 (26.6) |
77.0 (25.0) |
72.2 (22.3) |
62.6 (17.0) |
50.5 (10.3) |
43.0 (6.1) |
80.4 (26.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.8 (−1.8) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
38.5 (3.6) |
44.3 (6.8) |
53.1 (11.7) |
64.4 (18.0) |
70.8 (21.6) |
68.7 (20.4) |
60.6 (15.9) |
47.9 (8.8) |
35.7 (2.1) |
28.0 (−2.2) |
47.6 (8.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21.9 (−5.6) |
22.5 (−5.3) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
34.5 (1.4) |
42.6 (5.9) |
52.9 (11.6) |
59.1 (15.1) |
57.5 (14.2) |
50.4 (10.2) |
39.5 (4.2) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
38.4 (3.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.0 (−9.4) |
14.6 (−9.7) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
32.0 (0.0) |
41.5 (5.3) |
47.5 (8.6) |
46.3 (7.9) |
40.2 (4.6) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
14.8 (−9.6) |
29.2 (−1.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −4.9 (−20.5) |
−5.4 (−20.8) |
1.8 (−16.8) |
8.7 (−12.9) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
40.1 (4.5) |
38.3 (3.5) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
1.3 (−17.1) |
−5.6 (−20.9) |
−11.7 (−24.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) |
−33 (−36) |
−13 (−25) |
−9 (−23) |
4 (−16) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
31 (−1) |
14 (−10) |
−9 (−23) |
−16 (−27) |
−24 (−31) |
−33 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.09 (78) |
3.22 (82) |
3.42 (87) |
4.71 (120) |
3.52 (89) |
1.68 (43) |
2.07 (53) |
1.95 (50) |
2.28 (58) |
2.50 (64) |
2.91 (74) |
2.85 (72) |
34.2 (870) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 43.1 (109) |
53.3 (135) |
60.5 (154) |
63.5 (161) |
50.9 (129) |
12.1 (31) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.8 (2.0) |
10.3 (26) |
17.4 (44) |
32.1 (82) |
64.8 (165) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 15.0 | 15.1 | 15.3 | 17.0 | 13.9 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 13.0 | 13.7 | 146 |
| Source 1: XMACIS2(normals, records & 2005-2020 snow depth)[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (precip/precip days)[7] | |||||||||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bear Lake Loop". Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails. Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
- ^ "Bear Lake (322) - Site Information and Reports". Natural Resources Conservation Services. National Water and Climate Center. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ Lee, Willis T. (1917). The Geologic Story of the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Washington Government Printing Office. pp. 68–69.
- ^ "History of Bear Lake". 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
- ^ "Data of Meteorological Station Bear Lake, Colorado". geographic.org. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "Bear Lake, Colorado 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved January 5, 2024.
External links
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