The short but manageable hike to Blue Lake in the Indian Peaks Wilderness lends a whole new meaning to the phrase sensory overload. This stunningly beautiful trail affords expansive vistas, alpine wildflowers, impressive boulders, reflective ponds, braided streams, and the grand finale of Blue Lake’s sapphire waters at 11,355 feet. As an added bonus, during the late summer and early fall, keep your eyes peeled for awe-inspiring glimpses of majestic moose hiding in the valley’s rich willow thickets along the trail and around the lakes. If you’re a lover of wildlife, lakes, and the outdoors, you absolutely have to visit this unfathomably gorgeous spot that most certainly boasts the bluest water near Denver!
Bryce Bradford/Flickr Blue Lake and its crystal clear waters fill a rocky cirque at 11,355 feet, framed by Mt. Toll, Mt. Audobon, and Paiute Peak. This 2.55-mile one-way trail tucked away in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, offers an abundance of alpine beauty, including lakes, streams, mountains, valleys, and meadows.
Bryce Bradford/Flickr Begin your journey by loafing along the wonderfully wooded Mitchell Lake Trail and crossing Mitchell Creek to reach its namesake lake.
Bryce Bradford/Flickr In a large, open flat nestled at the base of Mt. Audobon at 10,735 feet is the magnificent Mitchell Lake, just half a mile from the trailhead.
Jonathan Reyes/Flickr The area is a prime location for spotting massive moose, who are fond of the aquatic plants and willow thickets that populate the area.
Bryce Bradford/Flickr The serenely blue waters of Mitchell Lake are breathtakingly beautiful in their own right, but if you continue just 1.6 miles up the trail, you will be privy to even more supremely stellar beauty and Rocky Mountain wonder.
Jonathan Reyes/Flickr The trail climbs gently to the center of the valley, with the cone-shaped summit of Mt. Toll (12,979’) teasing the treasure of Blue Lake, located at its base.
Jonah West/Flickr Blue Lake remains frozen for much of the year…
Alias Rex/Flickr …which no doubt contributes to its impossibly blue, pristinely still waters.
Katie Rompala/Flickr Take time to explore the area fully and soak up the surrounding beauty of this magical valley. I suggest taking a camera, a picnic, and extra layers of clothing, as it can get fairly windy at this elevation.
Jonathan Reyes/Flickr And there are marmots galore, which are just so darn cute!
Katie Rompala/Flickr A quick jaunt to the west side of the lake offers unbeatable vistas of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, the Rocky Mountains, and beyond.
Bryce Bradford/Flickr The maintained trail ends at Blue Lake, but there is a fairly clear route than continues up the north shore to Upper Blue Lake (11,833’) for those who are feeling ambitious.
Tinkurlab/Flickr If you’re looking for a serene spot to escape the urban sprawl and renew your spirit, this sublime alpine lake hike is just the ticket.
For another relatively easy trail with tremendous rewards, check out this short, enchanting hike that will give you an unforgettable experience.
Bryce Bradford/Flickr
Blue Lake and its crystal clear waters fill a rocky cirque at 11,355 feet, framed by Mt. Toll, Mt. Audobon, and Paiute Peak. This 2.55-mile one-way trail tucked away in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, offers an abundance of alpine beauty, including lakes, streams, mountains, valleys, and meadows.
Begin your journey by loafing along the wonderfully wooded Mitchell Lake Trail and crossing Mitchell Creek to reach its namesake lake.
In a large, open flat nestled at the base of Mt. Audobon at 10,735 feet is the magnificent Mitchell Lake, just half a mile from the trailhead.
Jonathan Reyes/Flickr
The area is a prime location for spotting massive moose, who are fond of the aquatic plants and willow thickets that populate the area.
The serenely blue waters of Mitchell Lake are breathtakingly beautiful in their own right, but if you continue just 1.6 miles up the trail, you will be privy to even more supremely stellar beauty and Rocky Mountain wonder.
The trail climbs gently to the center of the valley, with the cone-shaped summit of Mt. Toll (12,979’) teasing the treasure of Blue Lake, located at its base.
Jonah West/Flickr
Blue Lake remains frozen for much of the year…
Alias Rex/Flickr
…which no doubt contributes to its impossibly blue, pristinely still waters.
Katie Rompala/Flickr
Take time to explore the area fully and soak up the surrounding beauty of this magical valley. I suggest taking a camera, a picnic, and extra layers of clothing, as it can get fairly windy at this elevation.
And there are marmots galore, which are just so darn cute!
A quick jaunt to the west side of the lake offers unbeatable vistas of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, the Rocky Mountains, and beyond.
The maintained trail ends at Blue Lake, but there is a fairly clear route than continues up the north shore to Upper Blue Lake (11,833’) for those who are feeling ambitious.
Tinkurlab/Flickr
If you’re looking for a serene spot to escape the urban sprawl and renew your spirit, this sublime alpine lake hike is just the ticket.
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