Odessa Lake is a high-elevation alpine gem nestled beneath the dramatic spire of Little Matterhorn in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County, Colorado. With a perfect 5-star rating from hikers, this backcountry lake rewards those willing to put in the miles with some of the most spectacular scenery in all of RMNP. The lake sits in a glacially carved cirque surrounded by sheer rock walls and dense subalpine forest, creating a setting that visitors consistently describe as breathtaking and otherworldly.
The most popular route to Odessa Lake begins at the Bear Lake trailhead and traverses roughly 4 miles of varied terrain. The first half of the hike passes through lodgepole pine forest at a moderate grade, but the final stretch drops into the Odessa Gorge where the landscape opens into jaw-dropping views of the lake basin below. Many hikers combine Odessa Lake with a point-to-point shuttle hike connecting Bear Lake to the Fern Lake trailhead, creating a roughly 9-mile one-way trek that ranks among the finest day hikes in Colorado. This shuttle route passes multiple alpine lakes and waterfalls, making it an all-day adventure with nonstop scenery.
Odessa Lake itself makes an ideal lunch stop at the approximate halfway point of the Bear Lake-to-Fern Lake traverse. Flat rocks along the shoreline provide natural seating with views up toward Little Matterhorn and the surrounding ridgeline. The water is typically too cold for swimming, and the park discourages it in these fragile alpine ecosystems, but the reflections of the surrounding peaks on a calm morning are worth every step of the approach.
A Rocky Mountain National Park entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass is required, and a timed entry reservation may be needed during peak summer months to access the Bear Lake corridor. The trail is best hiked from late June through early October, with July and August offering the most reliable conditions. Snow can linger on north-facing sections into early July in heavy snow years. Start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and to secure parking at the Bear Lake lot, which fills by mid-morning on summer weekends.