10 mountain towns with stunning alpine lakes
Colorado is famous for many things, including stunning alpine lakes hidden within its mountains. Here are 10 mountain towns to visit where an alpine lake rests nearby.
Ice Lakes Basin area (Photo) Credit krblokhin (iStock)
1. Silverton
Find multiple awe-inspiring alpine lakes near the mountain town of Silverton. Ice Lake and Island Lake are situated high in alpine tundra of the Ice Lakes Basin. Amazing blue waters and abundant wildflowers put these lakes near Silverton at the top of any lake list. Note that closures may be in place on this trail. Check with an official source for current restrictions and requirements prior to planning any visit.
Photo Credit: krblokhin (iStock).
Silver Lake near Telluride, Colorado (Photo) Credit EvanCurtis (iStock)
2. Telluride
A trip to Blue Lake above Telluride means seeing abundant wildflowers, Bridal Veil Falls, a rushing creek, and cascading waterfalls along the trail. Blue Lake sits in a mountain bowl of jagged rock walls. Silver Lake is another lake found along a junction from the trail to Blue Lakes, but is a much steeper hike. Silver Lake is nestled in the mountains at about 11,800 feet.
Photo Credit: EvanCurtis (iStock).
Crested Butte (Photo) Credit Melissa Woolf (iStock)
3. Crested Butte
A short hike near Crested Butte leads to the picturesque alpine lake, Emerald Lake. The color of the water gives this lake its name.
Photo Credit: Melissa Woolf (iStock).
Ptarmigan Lake (Photo) Credit Breanna Sneeringer
4. Buena Vista
One of the more popular hikes near Buena Vista is found west of town up Cottonwood Pass. Within these mountains, Ptarmigan Lake sits at over 12,000 feet above sea level.
Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado.
Waterdog Lakes (Photo) Credit Breanna Sneeringer
5. Salida
A steady climb in the Collegiate Peaks near Salida leads to the Waterdog Lakes. Hikers are met with the first, smaller of the two lakes situated in a glacial bowl and then the larger one.
Photo Credit: Breanna Sneeringer, OutThere Colorado.
Turquoise Lake, Leadville (Photo) Credit Richard Bittles (iStock)
6. Leadville
Turquoise Lake is nicknamed after a sparkling gem found in the Leadville area. Right around alpine level in Colorado, Turquoise Lake sits at 10,000 feet. Also near Leadville are the Twin Lakes at the base of Independence Pass. Another alpine lake is Slide Lake, accessed via a bumpy OHV road.
Photo Credit Richard Bittles (iStock).
Lake in Eagle County (Photo) Credit Kyle Allingham (iStock)
7. Minturn
The Missouri Lakes are found along a breathtaking scenic hiking trail from Minturn. Three lakes are reached along this single trail, then a panoramic view of the lakes below come to view at the top of a series of switchbacks. This series of lakes sit around 11,000 feet in elevation.
File photo. Photo Credit: Kyle Allingham (iStock).
Mirror Lake and Lone Eagle Peak (Photo) Credit Seth Boster
8. Ward
The Indian Peaks Wilderness can be access from Ward, just west of Boulder. The area features many scenic alpine lakes. One notable alpine lake is Mirror Lake, which is set in a deep mountain bowl at the base of Lone Eagle Peak. Other alpine lakes in this area include Crater Lake and Monarch Lake.
Photo Credit: Seth Boster, The Gazette.
Rocky Mountain National Park Lakes (Photo) Credit Steven Bratman
9. Estes Park
Many alpine lakes are nestled along the Continental Divide near Estes Park. Enter Rocky Mountain National Park from this mountain town to hike to stunning alpines lakes such as Sky Pond, Fern Lake, Black Lake, Emerald Lake, and more.
Photo credit: Steven Bratman
Pitkin Lake, Vail (Photo) Credit Brendan Bombaci (flickr)
10. Vail
Pitkin Lake near Vail requires a 9.5-mile hike along a trail that climbs 3,000 feet in elevation. Another lake near Vail is Booth Lake, which is paid with a significant waterfall. The steep, high-elevation hike takes adventurers about 11,500 feet above sea level to Booth Lake, a body of water high in the mountains. An alpine lake accessible via driving is Piney Lake near Vail, which sits about 10,000 feet in
Photo Credit: Brendan Bombaci (Flickr).
Leave No Trace (Photo) Credit Stephen Martin, OutThere Colorado
Leave No Trace
The beauty of these alpine lakes in Colorado must be preserved by those who visit. Tips to Leave No Trace include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surface, dispose of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. The environment surrounding alpine lakes host many rare organisms and sensitive vegetation.
Photo Credit: Stephen Martin, OutThere Colorado.
Sunset in Colorado's Sangre De Cristo Mountains (Photo) Credit Sparty1711 (iStock)
Backcountry Safety
The alpine lakes in this list are located in elevations higher than 10,000 feet above sea level. Prepare for safe backcountry travel with plenty of water, food, gear, route-finding equipment, and watch for signs of dangerous weather.
Photo Credit: Sparty1711 (iStock).
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.