This was our third attempt to get to Bear Lake. Weather was an issue the other two times and we turned around. This was it ... either we ignored the weather and went on the hike or we would have to forget about Bear Lake. But we'd heard it was really pretty so were committed this time ... and you've heard it said many times before, "Third time's a charm" and it was for us! It is one of the top five places to visit in RMNP and thus a very popular destination including a very crowded parking lot. We were so thankful to get a good parking space after circling it 2-3 times hoping for one. Since we had Sadie with us, it was important that we got a parking space in this lot and not one where we had to take a shuttle.
Bear Lake was formed during the ice age by a glacier. Sitting at an elevation of 9,450 feet the .8 mile hike circles around the subalpine lake as it passes through a forest of spruce, fir, lodgepole pine and aspen. Many of the lodgepole pines in this area are in the process of dying, or are already dead. This is a result of the mountain pine beetle infestation that's had a profound impact on forests throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Near the beginning of the loop, along the eastern shore of the lake, you have a commanding view of Hallett Peak. As you proceed along to the north side of the lake you'll have a spectacular view of Half Mountain and Longs Peak.
The weather was a little "punky" but we headed out for a beautiful hike around Bear Lake (we circled it twice). As you can see from the photos below (from the choppy lake surface) it was a bit windy but that didn't distract from the beautiful mountain views.
Along the path were a number of benches that provided not only many occasions to sit and gaze upon the beautiful, serene scenery, but (in our case) also provided great photo opportunities. 
The fall colors were starting to explode on the hillsides as the aspens were beginning to bathe themselves in burgundy and golden hues.
By the time we were finishing our second loop around this beautiful alpine lake, the wind had subsided and the surface of the lake started to look glassy providing some lovely lake reflections.
Before leaving the trail I got a picture of John Muir ... uh, I mean Gary Robert Brooke fancying himself as John Muir :)
Wildlife also decided to join in the adventure and we saw a number of large blue jays hanging around in the tree branches lakeside.
When we finished that relatively easy 1.6 miles we decided to take the .5 mile hike to Nymph Lake. Hey, it's only 1 mile round trip ... we can do that! Unfortunately, what we didn't know before starting the hike was it going to be a 225' elevation gain in just 1/2 mile. Boy-oh-boy did I get a cardio (on the way up) and quad (on the way down) workout! It was straight uphill without and flat areas to give you a rest, although we had to stop a number of times for me to catch my breath and give my heart rate a rest. Remember we started out at over 9,400 feet!
Waterlilies grace the surface of this deep blue lake and rising above it are Longs Peak, Flattop Mountain and Hallett Peak (which you really can't see in most of these photos--except the last one--due to the clouds and glare). In the second picture below, however, you can see some of the devastation that the mountain pine beetle is causing.
And there's more wildlife! Right as we were leaving the ranger station area heading back to the parking lot, the Jeep, and Sadie (who was patiently waiting inside the car for us--dogs are not allowed on any trail in any national park), there's a moose hanging around in the brush enjoying a nice midday snack! She had quite a group of photographers and tourists gawking who were delighted by her nearness to the sidewalk (including us!).
Luke 8:24-25
They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, " Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"
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