Lake Haiyaha
A boulder-strewn lake below Hallett and Otis Peaks that turned turquoise after a 2022 rockslide.
About Lake Haiyaha
Lake Haiyaha sits at the mouth of Chaos Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, a short hop beyond Dream Lake on the Bear Lake trail system. Where Dream and Emerald lakes are tidy and framed, Haiyaha is wild: huge granite boulders crowd its shore, and old wind-twisted pines grow among the rocks.
From Bear Lake Trailhead it's about 4.2 miles round trip with roughly 745 feet of gain. You climb past Nymph Lake, turn left at the Dream Lake junction, and traverse a slope with views back over Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake before dropping into the lake basin.
Otis Peak rises on the left and Hallett Peak on the right, with Chaos Canyon between them. Since 2022, the water's milky turquoise color has made it one of the most talked-about lakes in the park.
A 3.6-mile out-and-back near Estes Park with a waterfall en route, moderately rated and best from June through October. The lake itself sits in a boulder field that photographs completely differently than the more classic alpine lakes nearby — the jumbled rock foreground gives you a lot more compositional options than a typical flat shoreline.
History
Haiyaha is an Indigenous word that has been translated as rock, big rocks or lake of many rocks, fitting for the boulder field along its shore. On June 28, 2022, a large rockslide off the south shoulder of Hallett Peak in upper Chaos Canyon sent fine sediment into the lake; park officials explained that the suspended rock flour changed how the water reflects light, turning it from its usual blue to a milky turquoise-green. They expected the color to shift back over time unless the slide stayed active.
The lake lies within Rocky Mountain National Park, established January 26, 1915.
Photographing Lake Haiyaha
Best light: Morning is best: the lake looks west into Chaos Canyon, so sunrise lights Hallett and Otis Peaks from the front while the basin is calm. Late morning sun can intensify the turquoise color but brings harsher light and more people. Fall and early winter offer fewer crowds and snow on the peaks.
Shots to look for
- Wide shot from the boulders on the east shore with twisted pines framing Hallett Peak and Otis Peak across the water.
- Tight shots of the turquoise water against white granite boulders, using a polarizer to reveal color under the surface.
- Chaos Canyon and the rockslide scar framed between the two peaks with a 70-200mm.
- Views back to Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake from the traverse on the way in.
Photo tips
- Bring a polarizer; it makes the difference in revealing the water's color.
- Boulder-hopping along the shore is part of the fun, but watch your footing with gear on wet or icy rock.
- Arrive before the timed-entry window or plan for the shuttle; Bear Lake parking fills early.
- Combine with Dream Lake and Emerald Lake, or continue to Glacier Gorge for a loop past Alberta Falls.
Know before you go
- Timed Entry+ Bear Lake Road reservations are required during daytime hours from roughly late May to mid-October; check nps.gov/romo for current details.
- A park entrance fee or pass is required.
- The trail stays icy and snowy well into spring; microspikes are often essential.
- Rockfall in Chaos Canyon has been active; respect any closures posted by the park.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Lake Haiyaha change color?
A large rockslide in upper Chaos Canyon on June 28, 2022 washed fine sediment into the lake, which changed how the water reflects light and gave it a milky turquoise color.
How long is the hike to Lake Haiyaha?
About 4.2 miles round trip from Bear Lake Trailhead with roughly 745 feet of elevation gain.
What does Haiyaha mean?
It's an Indigenous word that has been translated as rock, big rocks or lake of many rocks.
Featured in: Best Alpine Lake Hikes in Colorado
Combine it with
Dream Lake · Emerald Lake · Nymph Lake · Mills Lake
More Colorado spots
Lake Isabelle · Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) · Diamond Lake Trail
Sources & further reading: nps.gov · denvergazette.com · rockymountainhikingtrails.com · nps.gov. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.