Bierstadt Lake is situated on top of a lateral moraine created by the Bartholf glacier over 20,000 years ago, known as Bierstadt Moraine. It stands at an elevation of 9,416', is 7 acres in size, and without fish. It is a hike of 1.6 miles from Bear Lake, and only 255' elevation gain.
This is a favorite destination for skiers due to the mild slopes and beautiful vistas. The trail follows a dense forest of lodgepole pines. Sweeping views of the Continental Divide are seen from the east end of the lake, with a bonus view of Longs Peak to the south. It is reached by a trailhead on the north side of Bear Lake, turning east toward the moraine when you reach the Flattop trail, or from a steeper approach at the bottom of the moraine directly below the lake (an elevation gain of 566 feet).
This lake was named for a famous landscape artist in 1876, Albert Bierstadt. He was invited to Estes Park by the Earl of Dunraven, a wealthy land owner of the time who wanted to place a luxury hotel where it had the best view of Longs Peak. Not content with trusting his own judgement, he invited Bierstadt to locate it for him. One of Dunraven's assistants drove Bierstadt around the park (in a buggy) and named Bierstadt Lake for the artist who so much admired it. The hotel and hunting preserve that the Earl wanted to build was thwarted by American settlers. Bierstadt painted a large oil painting of Longs Peak which hung in the Dunraven Castle in Ireland before it was presented to the Denver Public Library in 1956 where it hangs today.#
