Seriously, this is the least popular alpine lake hike in Colorado on this list, likely because so few people know about it. Description. Continental Falls is a series of cascades dropping over 500 feet. Then recheck it the day before your hike. Gold Medal Lakes in Colorado. Maroon Lake is one of the best lakes in Colorado. Set in magnificent scenery, they are the focus of considerable settlement and a thriving tourist traffic, as well as of great scientific interest. The mountains surrounding Mirror Lake defy gravity, and early in the morning, you can get a perfect reflection of the famous Lone Eagle Peak (named the most beautiful mountain in Colorado). This moderate hike is a great way to get the beautiful scenery of alpine lakes in Colorado without the lung-busting elevation gain. Check the weather. The best lakes in Colorado often require hard hikes to get to but that also means that you can enjoy them with less people. Table of Contents hide 1 Shadow Mountain Lake 2 Green Mountain Reservoir 3 Dream Lake 4 Two Rivers Lake 5 Crater Lake 6 Grand Lake 7 Lake Granby 8 Piney Lake 9 Sylvan Lake State Park 10 Twin Lakes 11 Lake Dillon 12 Blue Mesa Reservoir 13 Chatfield State Park With over 110 hiking trails, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and rugged ridgelines, it's no wonder this national park made its way onto our list! You'll take the Continental Falls via the Mohawk Lakes trail to the falls. Whether you make a day hike or weekend of it, these hidden, Tucked away at the intersection of two valleys in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, is the popular Brainard Lake Recreation Area, with its namesake lake resting at 10,500.' Alpine Loop drive takes 4-6 hours to cover the distance between Ouray, Lake City, and Silverton. If youre looking for a moderate jaunt with big view payout, check out Silver Dollar Lake outside of Georgetown. Plan accordingly. In reality, you can make your way to an alpine lake any time of the year. Alpine Loop. Many of the most amazing lakeside views in the state are easily accessible for beginner hikers. + Save to a List. Discover the solitude and beauty of Twin Lakes. If you are already hiking Blue Lakes Trail and made it to Lower Blue Lake, it is worth continuing up to Middle Blue Lake. By: Simply hike to Loch Vale instead. 5 hidden lakes in Colorado you probably never knew exsisted Alpine Lake. Jewel Lake is accessible by a three-mile hike and Clear Lake requires an eight-mile hike to get to. Distance: 7.7 milesElevation: 2,522 feetDifficulty: DifficultRed Tape and Local Tips: No dogs. Make sure you have the necessary permits before setting up camp. This adventure leads you to one of Rocky Mountain National Parks deepest lakes (~50 ft deep). Share your suggestions or stories in the comments! Getting caught in a lightning storm at altitude is dangerous, it kills people every year, so be sure to check the weather and plan appropriately. Camping here is sure to be an awe-filled experience. You'll need four-wheel drive to access the campsites at Bill Moore Lake but getting there on the steep rocky roads is part of the fun! Photo: Nicola EasterbyDistance: 3.06 milesElevation: 1168 ftType: Out-and-back. Bierstadt Lake is a Rocky Mountain National Park gem. In winter the trail may be impossible without ice climbing gear. Photographers will appreciate the remarkable sunrise and night shot opportunities. Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado. Columbine Lake Trail #509 in San Juan National Forest is a difficult and steep trail with 16 discernible switchbacks but it's worth the effort. The trail will end with a gorgeous view of Pitkin Lake. The deep blue waters of the Ice Lakes will leave you in awe. Some hikes, like, Sedona is one of the most amazing places to hike and enjoy the beautiful nature. Heart Lake is another great option for backpackers. Bring your camera and pack some tasty snacks! With that being said, typically alpine lakes are frozen and mostly snow-free starting in July through around mid-October depending on the year. The views along the way to these four alpine lakes do not disappoint. Among the lakes stocked on Monday, the highest of them - Ptarmigan Lake in Gunnison County - sits at 12,306 feet. This adventure takes you through a well-marked trail with fantastic mountain views. Chasm Lake makes for a beautiful summer adventure. Grand Mesa Trails 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. Another worthwhile alpine lake hike near Breckenridge is Crystal Lake, which gives the ultimate solitude and scenery double punch. We can easily drive 30 minutes into high elevation aspen forests & alpine lakes when desired. With 50 square miles of golden aspens. Colorado's Alpine Loop is affectionately called the " Switzerland of America" for a reason! Blue Lakes Trail in Colorado is an easy daytime hike that features expansive alpine landscapes and brilliant turquoise waters. Her mission is to get you out on your greatest adventure. Lakes at 12,000 feet above sea level may only offer a couple of months of fishing due to the heavy snowfall in Colorado. If you want to stay in town, choose nearby Frantz Lake in Salida or Buena Vista Town Lake in McPhelemy Park. Does Sky Pond sound too intense? This hike can be done in a near-15-mile day over moderate terrain, or you can obtain a permit to backpack and camp right near the lake. Distance: 11.32 milesElevation: 2375 ftType: Out-and-back. Distance: 2.93 milesElevation: 675 ftType: Loop. The trail is short and packed with beauty, about 2-miles out-and-back. Arguably one of the most scenic backpacking routes in Colorado, Gore Lake delivers alpine beauty unlike anything else.Make your way up the challenging trail to an alpine scene that literally looks like a painting. Please note, reservations may be required for visiting the park. The Lake Haiyaha hike is accessible year-round and a great option for beginners or those looking for a gentle day and one of the best winter hikes in Colorado. The trail starts off steep, dropping into a valley before running flat, then climbing steeply up again. The water is gorgeous. Both make for a relaxing day of fishing and casting with the family. Distance: 8.02 milesElevation: 2500 ftType: Out-and-back. Proposition 114 passed in Colorado and now the planning process begins. The drive from Crested Butte to Paonia passes West Beckwith Mountain, the best spot in the state to view foliage. There are other great trout reservoirs in the area, but only Spinney is a Gold Medal water. Alpine Loop - If you look closely you can see a 44 on the trail dwarfed by the mountains. 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. Pristine, beautiful waters often reflect dramatic mountain views. Be Nice. Distance: Depends. Lake Isabelle is located 2.1 miles from the Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. No dogs. To get to the lake, you'll pass through two lakes Dream and Nymph. Photo Credit: MBPROJEKT_Maciej_Bledowski (iStock). With so many lake hikes, Colorado will have your hiking itinerary booked for years! racist or sexually-oriented language. The water is piercingly clear blue, which will entice you to jump right in! Its always a good idea, especially on longer, difficult hikes or solo excursions, to let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Distance: 1.9 milesElevation: 807 feetDifficulty: EasyRed Tape and Local Tips: There is a $5 parking fee at both parking lots for St Marys. 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. On Monday and . All photos (263) Parking is $5 at the Summit Lake parking lot. Although its hard to go wrong, heres a look at the best alpine lake hikes in Colorado for any ability level. To the left, you can see the dramatic ridgeline called Keyboard of the Winds. Give them instructions about who to call if they dont hear from you. The Sangre de Cristo mountains offer tranquil scenery without the hustle and bustle of the weekend warrior crowd near Denver. Distance: 6.5 milesElevation: 1,804 feetDifficulty: moderate to difficultRed Tape and Local Tips: This trail gets insanely busy in the summer, so start early. This ideal backpacking destination is located just minutes from the mountain town of Aspen. Make sure to pay attention to trail signs and take a GPS, there are a lot of intersecting trails in the area. For the best wildflowers, do this hike in late July. Trail Use: Hiking Only. This portion of the trail is very steep and scary so you have to be very careful and make sure to wear hiking boots and use trekking poles. Twin Lakes are two beautiful lakes located at the base of Mount Elbert, the tallest peak in Colorado. Discover the alpine beauty of Mirror Lake. Please note, reservations may be required to visit the park. This includes water, snacks, sun protection, extra layers, and more. This adventure features three impressive alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park: The Loch, Glass Lake, and Sky Pond. Colorado will soon see moisture from what was Hurricane Nora and flash flood watches are already in effect for parts of the state. Located outside of the beautiful mountain town of Vail, the trail to the lake is about 12.5 miles out-and-back. Start from the Bear Lake parking lot and hike the gentle trail towards Lake Haiyaha, passing through the alluring Emerald Lake. Local Tip: This hike is also near some of the best free camping near Denver. Its my favorite backpacking route in Colorado and well-worth an overnight. Once at the lakes, you can go for a swim (so bring a suit!) Long Lake is an alpine explorers paradise. To see the entire lake though, youll need to do a bit of climbing up the shore. 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. 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. Photo: Abby VohaskaDistance: 8.81 miles Elevation: 2635 ftType: Out-and-back. Some of them thought all of us had hiked into the wilderness to hear their death metal on the boombox at the lake all day. This is a phenomenal spot for a picnic lunch and a SUP experience. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 42 min to complete. The snowpack is different every year, so its tough to say when trails will be snow-free. Be on the lookout for the moose who call this beautiful mountain landscape home! Camping in dispersed camping areas gives you the opportunity for a little more privacy and peace and quiet. It's a 1.8-mile trek (3.6 miles round trip). If youre looking for short, sweet, and steep with incredible views, Windsor Lake near Leadville is an awesome choice.