Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Preface x
Introduction xiii
Welcome! A Message from Your Lake Guides xiii
Lake Hike Safety and Protocol xiii
Wildfires and Colorado's Changing Climate xvi
Reservations (May Be) Required xvii
How to Use This Guide xviii
How to Use the Maps xviii
Packing for Your Lake Hike xviii
Final Preparations xx
Map Legend xxii
The Lakes
Denver and Boulder Area
Brighton, Ward, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, and Littleton
1 Barr Lake 2
2 Lake Isabelle 6
3 Mitchell Lake and Blue Lake 10
4 Summit Lake 13
5 Square Top Lakes 16
6 Chat field Reservoir and Audubon Nature Center Ponds 20
Colorado Springs Area
Palmer Lake, Cascade, Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, and Lake George
7 Palmer Lake Reservoirs 25
8 Crystal Creek Reservoir 28
9 North and South Catamount Reservoirs 31
10 Rampart Reservoir 36
11 Mason and Boehmer Reservoirs 41
12 Manitou Lake 46
13 Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir 50
Central Colorado
Aspen, Twin Lakes, Leadville, Frisco, Breckenridge, and Buena Vista
14 Maroon Lake 56
15 Crater Lake 60
16 Linkins Lake 63
17 Independence Lake and Lost Man Lake 66
18 Windsor Lake 68
19 Timberline Lake 72
20 Lily Pad Lake 75
21 Mayflower Lakes 78
22 Mohawk Lakes 81
23 Kroenke Lake 84
24 Hartenstein Lake 87
25 Ptarmigan Lake 90
26 Lost Lake (Cottonwood Pass) 94
Southern Colorado
Pueblo, Westcliffe, Walsenburg, Trinidad, Alamosa, Coaldale, and Crestone
27 Stout Creek Lakes 99
28 Bushnell Lakes 103
29 Lakes of the Clouds 106
30 Comanche Lake 109
31 Venable Lakes 112
32 Macey Lakes 116
33 Lake Pueblo 120
34 Martin Lake 124
35 Trinidad Lake 128
36 Willow Lake 132
Southwestern Colorado
Silverton, Ouray, Dolores, and Mancos
37 Highland Mary Lakes, Verde Lake, and Lost Lake 137
38 Ice Lake Basin Lakes 141
39 Blue Lakes 146
40 Lake Hope 150
41 Navajo Lake 154
42 Jackson Gulch Reservoir 158
Western Colorado
Crested Butte, Cimarron, Cedaredge, and Grand Junction
43 Copper Lake 162
44 Blue Lake (Raggeds Wilderness Area) 166
45 Lost Lake Slough, Lost Lake, and Dollar Lake 170
46 Crystal Reservoir (Curecanti) 174
47 Cobbett Lake 177
48 Ward Lake 180
49 Alexander Lake and Baron Lake 183
50 Crag Crest Trail Lakes 186
51 Land o' Lakes Trail Lakes 190
52 Mesa Lake Loop 193
53 Mesa Lake, South Mesa Lake, and Lost Lake 196
54 Highline Lake 200
Northwestern Colorado
Meeker, Glenwood Springs, Vail, and Steamboat Springs
55 Skinny Fish Lake 205
56 Little Trappers Lake and Coffin Lake 208
57 Trappers Lake 212
58 Big Fish Lake 215
59 Hanging Lake 218
60 Pitkin Lake 222
61 Steamboat Lake 226
62 Mica Lake 229
Northern Colorado
Walden and Fort Collins
63 Ruby Jewel Lake 233
64 Lake Agnes 236
65 Horsetooth Reservoir 239
66 Fossil Creek Reservoir 242
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, Allenspark, and Grand Lake
67 Gem Lake 247
68 Ypsilon Lake and Chipmunk Lake 250
69 Fern Lake and Odessa Lake 253
70 Cub Lake 258
71 Sprague Lake 261
72 Glacier Gorge Lakes: Mills Lake, Jewel Lake, and Black Lake 264
73 Loch Vale Lakes: The Loch, Lake of Glass, and Sky Pond 268
74 Bear Lake 271
75 Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, and Emerald Lake 274
76 Lily Lake 277
77 Peacock Pool and Chasm Lake 280
78 Sandbeach Lake 284
79 Bluebird Lake 288
80 Lone Pine Lake and Lake Verna 292
Appendix: Land Status Contact Information 296
About the Authors 305
