For the sturdy explorer in Colorado, the rarefied air of 14,000 feet might be the ultimate reward after a hard hike. Or it might be the refreshing, scenic shore of an alpine lake.
The waters appear like jewels on a map, sapphires tucked high in the mountains. And, indeed, you’ll have to earn these treasures. Here are some we’re seeking this summer.
Blue Lakes
Nearest town: Ridgway
Round trip: ~8.5 miles, ~2,500 feet elevation gain
The chain of lakes living up to the name — well, turquoise might be more accurate — has gotten popular enough for land managers to consider crowd control. Permits have been floated for day hikers and overnight backpackers; the requirement could begin in 2025. It’s a wondrous trek through Mount Sneffels Wilderness, culminating in the top lake above 11,700 feet.
Lake Haiyaha
Nearest town: Estes Park
Round trip: ~4.2 miles, ~750 feet elevation gain
Often passed for other destinations in Rocky Mountain National Park, the lake has earned more attention in recent years after a rockslide dumped “glacial flour” into the water. That’s the sediment credited for a dramatic color change, a milky green. You’ll need a reservation to start from the national park’s busy Bear Lake trailhead. The good news: the hike shouldn’t take tons of time.
Island Lake
Nearest town: Silverton
Round trip: ~7.7 miles, ~2,700 feet elevation gain
This is another arduous, bucket list trek granting a series of lakes perched high in the San Juan Mountains. Island Lake is the last popularly reached from the Ice Lakes trailhead, by South Mineral Campground. After a steep ascent, upper Ice Lake is magnificent enough for many to stop. Many more continue less than a mile to the lake with a rock island at its center.
Lakes of the Clouds
Nearest town: Westcliffe
Round trip: ~10.5 miles, ~2,600 feet elevation gain
The lakes are but a few treasures in the treasure-filled Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The three are nestled amid pine and aspen, each within about a half-mile of the others. It’s trout that anglers seek, camping out a night or two as they do. It’s serenity that awaits all willing to endure the hard, rocky trail starting from a rough road requiring a high-clearance vehicle.
Lost Lake
Nearest town: Nederland
Round trip: ~4.5 miles, ~800 feet elevation gain
Lost Lake is found very, very often. That’s because it’s fairly easy to reach from the highly accessible Hessie trailhead. If you know about the parking situation, “accessible” is a relative term. Fortunately, hikers can catch a shuttle from Nederland High School. It’s hassle-free the rest of the way to the beautiful lake — a classic scene of Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Mohawk Lake
Nearest town: Breckenridge
Round trip: ~6.2 miles, ~1,500 feet elevation gain
Talk about bang for the buck. You get it all: stream-fed forests, wildflower-spotted meadows, views of fourteeners and even glimpses of mining history in the form of ruins. All in the span of about three miles from Spruce Creek trailhead. It’s reached off Colorado 9, close to Quandary Peak’s base. The lake is a big attraction, but there’s plenty of room for solitude along its banks.
