Amazing backpacking hike in Colorado: Blue lakes trail

Amazing blue lakes in Coloradohttps://www.instagram.com/dreamcatcher_mahdi/

Blue Lakes trail was one of the best backpacking trips I ever had apart from Havasupai. Nothing could beat Havasupai as that was my first backpacking trip. But backpacking to the Blue Lakes was an amazing trip. These three beautiful lakes are located in a very beautiful area known as Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, which is in the Uncompahgre National forest. This National forest is home to many alpine goodness. Don’t get confused with the other Blue Lakes in Colorado. When I was searching the information, I got really confused. These three lakes are located between Ridgeway and Telluride. To reach the trailhead you have to drive 9 miles south onto Dallas Creek Road (CR 7/FR 851). Though this 2WD works fine for this road but be cautious while driving this dirt road as there are some spots where you may find some potholes and encounter washboard. At the end of this 9-mile distance, you will find a locked gate and the trail for the Blue Lakes starts here. We went there during August. It was a heavy snow year. Though the snow melted completely, still it was cold and mountain weather is unpredictable. That why we tried our best to pack warm clothes and the winter sleeping bags for this trip. We started around 12 pm. Though we intend to start early in the morning, due to some circumstances, we had to change our plan and start the hike late. The drive to the trailhead is really scenic. You can get an idea how spectacular the trail will be from the drive.

Blue Lakes, Coloradohttps://www.instagram.com/dreamcatcher_mahdi/

Once you start hiking on the Blue Lakes trail, you will find another trail branched off towards the east and that trail is Blaine Basin Train Junction. Keep your direction towards Blue Lakes trail which directs southwest. From this point, the trail climbs up steadily and at around 1.5 miles from the trailhead, you will cross a small stream and then head towards southeast for the final climb to Blue Lakes. The trail is beautiful, shades at many places, a lot of switchback and a lot of wildflowers such as blue columbine, lupine, Indian paintbrush, pink moss campion red queen’s crown, etc. If you want to see the wildflowers, the best time is mid-July to mid-August. Even in late August, we found a lot of wildflowers on both sides of the trail. At around 3.5 miles, you will arrive at the Lower Blue Lake, the largest among the three lakes. This lake is located at an elevation if 10,980 feet. The first view of the lake is quite mesmerizing. The mountain towering over the lake, the picture-perfect reflection- everything about this lake is mesmerizing. Specially imagine if you are camping near the lake, well not exactly near but with a view of the lake, how amazing it could be! We camped here and it was really amazing. Many people stay here as a base camp here for their climb to the summit of Mt. Sneffels. You can camp here, enjoy the view or you can hike further to the upper lakes. While you will be hiking or climbing up, you will be able to get different views of the lower Blue Lake from different viewpoint and the lake looks quite different from an upper location. It looks like a lake of pure blue goodness, which is absolutely amazing. The panorama view of the lake and the mountains is spectacular. If you ascend 500 feet more in a little over 0.5 miles, you will reach the middle lake at 11,500 feet. If you can go further a little more than a quarter mile away, at around 11,720 feet elevation, you will be able to see the Upper Blue Lake. Think how outstanding the view will be! You will be surrounded by the view of Mt. Sneffels, Dallas Peak and Gilpin Peak- so many amazing beauties and the Upper Blue Lake. Once the snow melts, the color of the lakes becomes blue- different shades of blue during different times of the day and from different elevation.

This hike is truly a beautiful one and it was so beautiful we felt like we stepped into a post card world. All the time, I was wondering how beautiful it would get during the fall season. We saw a lot of wildflowers, slept under a sky full of stars, watched the last ray of sun hitting the tip of the mountain, had breakfast near the lake. Then with a content heart and mind, we started our return journey.

At a glance/fact

• Hike length: 6.3 out and back (to Lower Blue Lake)
• Elevation gain: 1590ft (Lower Blue Lake)
• Difficulty: moderate to strenuous, depends on how further you want to go.
• Location: Blue Lakes Trail, Telluride, CO 81435
• Co-ordinate:
• Trailhead: 38.035759, -107.806825
• Best time to visit: Summer and fall, season opens in June.
• Permit/Fee: none
• Parking: There is parking lot at the trailhead
• Amenities: pit toilet at the trailhead.
• Please check the weather before you start your hike. Mountain weather always change frequently. Dress according to the weather. During the summer months, you may want to carry sunscreen, hat, sunglass.
• Colorado is a bear country and there are bears in this area. Carry bear spray, and bear canister for food storage. Talk loudly while on the trail and attach a ring bell with your bag. If you are backpacking, please do not keep your bag near the tent.s Take proper precaution.
• These lakes are beautiful, and we want to keep it that way. Let’s practice leave no trace principle and pack out all our trashes.

Source

• Blue Lakes Trail (usda.gov)

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