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This moderate hike is a great way to get the beautiful scenery of alpine lakes in Colorado without the lung-busting elevation gain. Take the Glacier Gorge Trail up a steep, winding dramatic valley that terminates at the famed Sky Pond. Distance: 8.56 milesElevation: 2057 ftType: Out-and-back. However, dont be fooled by the easy accessibility. Camping here is sure to be an awe-filled experience. You'll take the Continental Falls via the Mohawk Lakes trail to the falls. Breathe in the fresh air and set up a hammock to enjoy the most incredible mountain and alpine lake backdrop. There are other great trout reservoirs in the area, but only Spinney is a Gold Medal water. If you are up for the challenge Island Lake is worth the visit! Moderate (difficult in winter) 2.4-mile out-and-back. The natural beauty of a waterfall is within easy reach of Denver. Discover the alpine beauty of Mirror Lake. During the Ice Age of the geologically . However, if you are up for a little hike, you'll discover that Blue Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness is true to its name. By Heather Brinkmann | The Denver Post. Distance: 8.12 milesElevation: 2037 ftType: Out-and-back. Along the way, catch sight of Maroon Bells and Pyramid Peak. Note: Many of the links are affiliate links which means I receive a very small commission (at no . However, this is one gorgeous hike, especially during the wildflower season. Bushnell lakes sit under Bushnell Peak and SE of Stout Lakes drainage. 1. Maroon Lake brings you the best of the Bells, the Maroon Bells that is. For an invigorating day of outdoor fun, head over to these amazing, Hidden deep in the Rawah Wilderness near Fort Collins, is a secluded picturesque paradise with pristine alpine lakes and the spectacular Medicine Bow Mountains as their backdrop. Known for its alpine lakes, Colorado has a wide variety of trails and lake scenery to choose from. The first couple miles of the hike are extremely steep and difficult. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. It's a 1.8-mile trek (3.6 miles round trip). 20 Gift Ideas for People Who Love to Travel, 10-Day Costa Rica Itinerary: From Hot Springs to Cloud Forests, Sedona Off the Beaten Path: Sedona Hidden Gems, Top Shaded Hikes in Sedona: Sedona Summer Hikes, 16 Top Destinations in the Southwest US You Must See. . Check out this adventure for impressive views of the Mount Evans Wilderness. The hike is difficult but is worth the challenge to get to one of the most beautiful lakes in Colorado. Surprise Lake is also accessible from this set of trails, and all of the lakes offer the added bonus of being the perfect setting for a pristine, secluded backcountry campsite. Walk another half mile and youll see a beautiful waterfall, followed by stellar views of Lily Lake. Discover Which Colorado Mountain Town is right for you. You will definitely want to wear hiking boots and bring trekking poles for this part of the trail. Start at Brainard Lake and make your way up the valley to Lake Isabelle where youll have views of the Isabelle Glacier a permanent snowfield. Distance: 2.93 milesElevation: 675 ftType: Loop. 5h 16m. Distance: 12.5 milesElevation: 2,890 feetDifficulty: DifficultRed Tape and Local Tips: This mountain range holds snow well into July, so be prepared for a few patches of snow, even in late summer. Like the name suggests, youll be in awe of the color of the deep blue waters. Sculpted by the forces of volcanoes, glaciers, wind, and rain, the resulting mountains, valleys, streams, and lakes are a masterpiece of nature's artistry. Gore Lake. There are three lakes in the basin. Harder To Reach: Lawn Lake. Cherry Creek Reservoir in Aurora, Colorado offers a treasure trove of outdoor activities for the whole family. Capping out at 12,183 feet in elevation, at its summit, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous road in the country. Chicago Lakes is a popular hiking trail in the Mount Evans Wilderness that has two magnificent lakes with stellar views of the foothills and of Mount Evans. If you're feeling extra adventurous, climb to the 14,433-foot summit of Mount Elbert. To get there, follow Spruce Creek Trail to Mohawk Lakes for 8.6 miles of out-and-back beauty. For more information on how to do this lake loop, continue to our Rocky Mountain National Park Guide. Its still worth a visit, even if you arent climbing. Cottonwood Lake Here are the lessons I have learned! As a consequence, by mid-June I Accessibility from North Cascades Highway makes it an excellent stop on a road trip through the area. Get to know this 6.7-mile out-and-back trail near Snoqualmie Pass, Washington. The Alpine Lakes is the largest wilderness area . On the way youll pass three additional lakes, including the iconic Dream Lake. The Upper Piney River trailhead begins at Piney Lake and winds through aspen meadows bursting with columbines, before passing by the cascading Piney Falls and ultimately leading to Upper Piney Lake at the headwaters of the Piney River just above 11,000.' Nestled in Rocky Mountain National Park lies Dream Lake. In order to avoid storms at high altitude, youll want to start your hike EARLY, sometimes before the sun rises, depending on the length of the hike. If youre looking for a moderate jaunt with big view payout, check out Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown. The drive from Crested Butte to Paonia passes West Beckwith Mountain, the best spot in the state to view foliage. The trail starts off steep, dropping into a valley before running flat, then climbing steeply up again. Its a total bonus if you hit this trail early and arrive for the sunrise! Distance: 8.6 miles from the lower lot, the upper lot cuts about a mile or so off each way (see Crystal Lake)Elevation: 2,129 feet from the lower lot (see Cyrstal Lake)Difficulty: ModerateRed Tape and Local Tips: This is a dog-friendly area packed with awesome 13er hiking opportunities. Please note, reservations may be required to visit the park. Lowest Depth: 265 feet. Rocky Mountain National Park is just under a two-hour drive from Denver and an hour's drive from Boulder. From short day hikes close to the city to multi-day backpacking trips deep in Rocky Mountain National Park, these adventures will take you to some of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Colorado. In layman's terms, they are the state's finest fisheries. The main attraction while at the lake is the commanding Hallett Peak. Make sure you have the necessary permits before setting up camp. To get to Island Lake, hike on Ice Lake Trail and after visiting Ice Lake, take a left on the trail to continue up to Island Lake. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. The trail also features both forests and meadows budding with an abundance of wildflowers interspersed along the way. Hike your way up to the lakes for breath-taking views and lakeside goodness! There is no overnight parking without a backcountry permit (we learned this the hard way) and there is an entry fee to get to the trailhead. You could also do a loop and combine this lake with Bear Lake, Emerald Lake, and Lake Haiyaha. The 9.5-mile out-and-back trail located near Vail climbs nearly 3,000 feet in elevation before reaching the awe-inspiring mountain lake. Here's a list of beautiful alpine lakes in Colorado for adventure-seeking souls. This popular lake is located within Maroon Bells Wilderness Area. The Maroon Bells are world renowned for being some of the most breathtaking mountains in the US. By the way, the lake we hiked to was Lost Lake past Eldora.loaded with brookies but also unfortunately with groups of loud hikers and overnight campers, despite the steep uphill climb. Primarily characterized as an alpine tundra region, its total distance is approximately 65 miles and can be completed in about 7 hours (or more), typically under normal circumstances. Hike to the base of several Colorado 14ers at South Colony Lakes and enjoy one of the best hikes in Colorado. Directions SUV recommended: From the Town of Crested Butte, take Gothic Road (Route 135) north a total of 12.6 miles. Many of these lakes are nestled between some of the most incredible mountain scenery you'll ever lay eyes on, making them ideal for golden hour photoshoots. This glacial lake is the largest natural lake in Colorado in terms of surface area, depth, and total water volume. Though close in proximity to Maroon Lake, Crater Lake is a less crowded destination, yet still unbelievably scenic. Driving to Alpine Lakes Some lakes, like Cottonwood Lake or O'Haver Lake, are accessible by car, and even more can be found with a little hiking effort. or drop a line and try your luck with some fishing. For the best wildflowers, do this hike in late July. Dogs are welcome, but due to the crowds, keep Fido leashed. Youll find over 2,000 alpine lakes in Colorado. Immarite? Check that the ice is fully frozen on the lake before stepping on to cross in the colder months! Miles from Denver: 100 miles. This water adventure features beautiful cascading waterfalls among steep rocky cliffs and lush green pine trees. This alpine-lake hike should make every Coloradan's bucket list. In winter, you will have to take a walk-around to avoid avalanche terrain so be alert. This hike also has a waterfall. Simply hike to Loch Vale instead. No dogs. Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. This popular alpine lake Colorado hike near Vail, Colorado will take you across Pitkin Creek and on an intense, narrow climb up the mountain. . Both lakes are stunning, a gasping traverse through the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Bear Lake Bear Lake located in Rocky Mountain National Park Located off of Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Lakes makes for a quick pit stop. While "alpine" is used by many anglers to describe the high elevation fisheries they visit that are inaccessible for of the year and may require a difficult drive and/or hike to access, not all high elevation fisheries are truly "alpine". Think again! With such a delicate ecosystem, your skin oils and sunscreen can kill the wildlife that lives in the lake. Elevation Gain: 465 feet. Photo Credit: Jose A Feliciano Cestero (iStock). The wildflower lined trail is short and beautiful, clocking in at 2.1 miles round trip. Dream Lake is a high alpine lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, located east of the continental divide in northern Colorado. Distance: 14.94 milesElevation: 2421 ftType: Out-and-back. Alpine Loop drive takes 4-6 hours to cover the distance between Ouray, Lake City, and Silverton. This is one of the most iconic adventures in Colorado and for good reason! What I love about this Colorado lake hike is just how quiet it is. Come July and August, Lawn Lake is arguably the best lake for fishing in the park. The byway provides many scenic overlooks to view each of these Colorado beauties. Here's a list of beautiful alpine lakes in Colorado for adventure-seeking souls. You'll pass the ski resort and drive over into the Gothic valley, past the old mining town of Gothic. UPPER & LOWER BUSHNELL LAKES. While opting for the alpine wonder is suitable for a wider range hiking skill levels, bagging both peaks is only recommend for the most experienced hikers. The total hike round trip to Upper Blue Lake is 8 miles with 2,404 ft elevation gain. Travel over the off-road driving trail (either on foot or by 44) and reach the Alta Ghost Town. Photo Credit: MBPROJEKT_Maciej_Bledowski (iStock). If you are already hiking Blue Lakes Trail and made it to Lower Blue Lake, it is worth continuing up to Middle Blue Lake. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism The 6.3-mile hike takes 2.5-3 hours, and the elevation gain is very gradual for. Alpine Loop - If you look closely you can see a 44 on the trail dwarfed by the mountains. Set in magnificent scenery, they are the focus of considerable settlement and a thriving tourist traffic, as well as of great scientific interest. Backpack Gore Lake and catch a sunset in this unbelievable landscape. The best lakes in Colorado often require hard hikes to get to but that also means that you can enjoy them with less people. If you already made it to Middle Blue Lake it is a quick 0.2 mile walk to Upper Blue Lake. If you are actually interested in how my dogs are incredibly cared for (& my dog skijoring/ mushing ventures), you can see where they live via @mesamutts on IG - 5 acre fenced dog paradise. Take in all the wondrous sights nature has to offer as you trek your way to Lake Agnes. Come prepared for changing weather conditions. Jewel Lake is accessible by a three-mile hike and Clear Lake requires an eight-mile hike to get to. Enjoy magnificent views of aspens as you continue through sage and dense forest. Spalding. Getting to American Lake requires a steep 6 mile round trip hike with 2,000 ft elevation gain. Don't Threaten. There is plenty of fishing, swimming, camping, and even small, easy hiking trails that provide plenty of family fun. Check with the Castle Mountain Recreation Company for more up-to-date information. Trout Lake is a short drive from the Town of Telluride and Mountain Village towards Lizard Head Pass. 1. Think you need to be a hiking pro to enjoy amazing alpine lake hikes in Colorado? In fact, almost every hike in Colorado leads to an alpine lake. The trail is located near Glenwood Springs, offering the perfect post-adventure spot. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. This truly-epic alpine lake hike is long, but worth the effort. Pass by several waterfalls on your way to one of the most magnificent lakes in all of Colorado. The 14.3-mile out-and-back trail features double the wonders Mirror Lake and Crater Lake. Travel guides created to inspire and enable people to use their time away from the office to explore the world. Willow Lake offers a backpacking adventure into the Sangre de Cristo range. To make this a longer adventure, you can keep the fun going all the way to Bear Lake. Dont expect solitude here, even in the dead of winter. Lake Ann - Only accessible by way of a 1.75-mile well-maintained trail, this pristine lake is ruggedly scenic and extremely protected. Though one of the shorter adventures on this list, the hike to Loch Vale in Rocky National Park is surely just as rewarding as the others. The best time to visit is between June and October. Be sure to bring your camera and a snack to enjoy at the lake, its really that unbelievable. Camping in dispersed camping areas gives you the opportunity for a little more privacy and peace and quiet. It's about a 3-mile trek out-and-back. Before reaching Heart Lake, be sure to soak in the alpine views first at Rogers Lake. If youre looking for a stunning place to stake out camp by a lake, look no more! This list comes from years of research and is a total labor of love. Start from the Bear Lake parking lot and hike the gentle trail towards Lake Haiyaha, passing through the alluring Emerald Lake. Nineteen of the 24 lakes shown in the video sit above 10,000 feet in elevation. The 2.3-mile out-and-back trail starts off in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area and then winds on to the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Located in the San Juan Mountains, the lake also attracts a variety of wildlife including elk and moose.