The hike to Ice Lake begins from the South Mineral Campground in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado. You will see 5 lakes if you follow the trail all the way, and there are several more lakes if you explore around the basin. It is closed temporarily due to fire-related hazards. Physically difficult but well worth the work. Follow the trail from Upper Ice Lakes Basin over a rise and across a plateau. When we got to the loop, we went right (counter clockwise) and had the trail and first lake all to ourselves. The trail to Fuller Lake can be quite wet and muddy, but staying on the trail will help preserve the fragile alpine tundra. The trail leading to Ice Lake Basin, Colorado can be split into four parts. The trail wastes no time gaining elevation, climbing 1,600-ft. in 2-miles through forests and wildflower-filled meadows to the beautiful Lower Ice Lakes basin. Ice Lake has to be one of the most spectacular destinations for the hiker that wants an experience to remember. This hike is as gorgeous as everyone says. Demanding trail, with walking stick and plenty of water ardently recommended. With amazing views along the way, this trail leads to … The first part is hiking amongst the trees to the lower basin, which is where you’ll find the split that takes you to Island Lake or Ice Lakes Basin proper. Off to the left of the trail Lower Ice Lake sits right at the edge of the treeline. The Ice Lake Basin Trail is a tough hike to stunning views, incredible wildflowers, and electric blue alpine lakes — it's certainly worth the climb. The stunning Ice Lake, Colorado trail is steep and strenuous at points. Dog bags left on the trail. … You’ll get to see a vivacious waterfall flowing from a few hundred feet in the sky and cross its small creek via hand-laid trees. the trail is almost entirely inclined up to ice lake and the hills only get steeper as you get closer. In the west, the dramatic triumvirate that heads the Ice Lake Basin commands and holds attention throughout the remainder of the hike: Fuller Peak, Vermilion Peak and Golden Horn. From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. At more than 8 miles of simple-to-rocky terrain, it’s long. At this point there are three options: return to the trailhead, continue on Ice Lakes Trail south to the basin and Fuller Lake, or cross over the stream and ascend the trail to Island Lake. After~2.3 miles the trail will begin to flatten as you enter lower ice lake basin. The fire started near the parking lot for the ice lake basin trail, and now 600 acres have burned. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” Note: Updated trail closure information can be viewed on the San Juan National Forest page here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=42984&actid=50 This actually worked for me and allowed me to successfully push myself to complete this one-mile section with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain in roughly 45 minutes. Hit the Nature Jackpot: 15 Hikes Near Las Vegas, Nevada . When you emerge from a 2-mile hike through the woods to find a field of flowers, lush greenery and flowing streams in the summer, you’ll be on a 0.75-mile trek through mostly flat meadows. Located near the towns of Ouray and Silverton in Colorado, hiking to Island Lake and Ice Lake Basin is a must do for anyone looking for spectacular colored lakes, gorgeous peaks, and thousands of wildflowers. If you’re visiting during fall, I suggest you begin hiking in the afternoon because there won’t be summer crowds and the photos are better at the lake. Trash left by hikers. Phone: 800-COLORADO This time our destination was Ice Lakes Basin, located a couple miles NW of Silverton, CO. Leesa said that we were "Lake Bagging", instead of peak bagging. Distance: 7 miles out and back Difficulty: Challenging Elevation Gain: 2,562 Ft Time: 5 hours. It was challenging. Be careful not to slip when coming down. The road leading to the trailhead is pretty smooth. The trail might be difficult, but that doesn’t seem to deter the thousands of hikers this trail sees every season. The hike starts at South Mineral Creek Campground (easily accessible with low clearance cars), elevation at trailhead is 9,827 feet. The reviews were stellar, the photos spectacular, it was the perfect length at about 8.5 miles, and according to Google Maps, … Things to note: heaps of side trails, so easy to get lost. The Ice Lakes Basin is a very popular hike for a very good reason – the eponymous Ice Lake is arguably the bluest in the entire Rocky Mountains. The hike itself is wonderful – hard, but wonderful. I went clockwise, although either direction looks good. But it’s worth every step of the 0.75-mile journey to the top. They all have bathrooms, too, so you may as well go with the free sites! I did this hike on July 25, 2017 as a backup plan due to inclement weather. I had plans on hitting peaks all three days so it made good sense to head up to Ice Lake and to camp in the upper basin. You do start off around 9,800 feet, so if you’re out of shape or coming from sea level, you’ll feel this for sure. The updated closure (Forest Order SJ-2020-10) applies to ALL public entry, including hikers, mountain bikers, snowshoers, skiers, and all motorized use including snowmobiles. Likely this fire due to the carelessness of a hiker or camper. Its water is bluer than the Bahamas. Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202 Ice Lake is a brilliant ice blue color and is in a cirque under 13,767-foot US Grant Peak. This basin is surrounded on 3 sides by sheer rock walls with multiple waterfalls draining the upper basins - there are several pleasant stream crossings while traversing the basin. We then hiked on to Ice Lake and continued on to the last lake on the trail, which was an additional climb but well worth it. Switchbacks, wildflowers, meadows, and more, read more about this absolutely essential trail and all it has to offer. It’s strenuous. Its sudden increase in elevation will leave you gasping for air. I think they are all amazing, but the lack of crowds at Fuller lake compared to Ice lake pushed it to the top for me. It’s steep. If you’re in the area and looking for an all around five-star hike, this is for you. Why Hike Ice Lakes. Let me put it into perspective. If you’re hiking Ice Lake Trail during the summer months, you may want to get an early morning start to avoid the crowds of people and afternoon storms common in the area. Fires in the Upper Basin's alpine zone are highly discouraged for several reasons: Go north of Silverton on Hwy. Most important learn how to poop and pee in the woods. https://hikingswcolorado.blogspot.com/2013/09/ice-lake-basin.html Awesome views and trail. One of the best day hikes you are ever going to find, Ice Lake Basin Trail. The Ice Fire area closure includes the lower Ice Lakes Trail, the lower Clear Lake Road, and the South Mineral Road (NFSR 585) from a new gate just past Goldenhorn camping area to where it crosses Clear Creek past South Mineral Campground. So you’re basically climbing the entire height of America’s fifth-tallest building — and you’re doing it between 11,400 feet and 12,265 feet of elevation. At this point there are three options: return to the trailhead, continue on Ice Lakes Trail south to the basin and Fuller Lake, or cross over the stream and ascend the trail to Island Lake. Rewarding hike, moving counterclockwise on the loop to hit Island Lake prior to Ice Lake. Then you’ll finally see Ice Lake, a lake that’s bluer than the sky it sits under. I've never experienced the shortness of breath I did on today's hike. We are in good shape and are fairly experienced hikers, so we chose to do the trail up to Ice Lake, then went over to Island Lake (a little sketchy in one part), and looped back around and down. While that may not seem like a lot, the average stair is 7.5 inches in height. It traverses through another forest of aspen, firs and cedar trees, but it does so on gruelingly steep switchbacks made of red dirt and a few stones are strewn throughout. Hiking to Island Lake [Day 1] We arrived Friday [Aug 30] around noon, started hiking by 1:52 pm and arrived at the majestic Island Lake 4:32 pm. We are in good shape and are fairly experienced hikers, so we chose to do the trail up to Ice Lake, then went over to Island Lake (a little sketchy in one part), and looped back around and down. However, you still have about a mile and just under 1,000 feet of elevation to go to reach the upper lake. That means you’re theoretically climbing 1,384 steps. the last mile is definitely the toughest and i strongly recommend having appropriate footwear because it can be a bit hard to get a foothold even in boots, especially when going back down - i saw a lot of individuals in casual shoes slipping and sliding their way along the trail and some parts can be dangerously narrow. last two miles are steep with thin air, hiking polls are helpful as many stated. The trail splits to the upper basin and island lake around 2-2.5 miles (include in trail description). In the Lower Basin, there is a shallow lake to the south of the trail. Ice Lake Basin Trail: The Best Hike in San Juan National Forest, : 7.3 miles to Ice Lake & 8.4 miles to Island Lake, : 2,430 feet to Ice Lake & 2,550 to Island Lake, : 12,265 at Ice Lake & 12,400 at Island Lake, Ice Lake Basin Trailhead, Silverton, Colorado, Everything You Need to Know About the Ice Lake Basin Trail Hike, The second section is where the going gets a little tough and you may have to start taking more, Fourth Section: Strenuous Rocky Switchbacks, 7 Unique Things to Do in the Colorado Mountains Without Snow, Hiking for Beginners: Essentials, Gear, Tips & Training, How to Choose Hiking Boots for Your Next Adventure, 7 Leave No Trace Principles for Every Hiker & Camper, 10 Essentials for Hiking You Should Always Bring, 20 Reasons to Hike That Can Make Your Life Better, 9 Summer Activities to Do in Copper Mountain, Colorado, 7 Things to Do in Copper Mountain, Colorado in Winter, Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky) Travel Guide, Viñales, Cuba Travel Guide: Things to Do & Where to Stay, Colorado Springs’ Garden of the Gods Travel Guide, Mesa Verde National Park Travel Guide: Tours, Camping & More, 6 Most Popular Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. We took a variety of pics and then continued the climb up to Fuller Lake which sits at just over … A permit system is now in place which you'll need to obtain from the Columbine Ranger District in order to hike this trail. We were amongst the last people down around sunset on Sunday and smelled smoke briefly near the trailhead but didn’t know where it was coming from. You can also split off as you get into the lower basin and take the mile uphill push to Island Lake. The trail might be difficult, but that doesn’t seem to deter the thousands of hikers this trail sees every season. Out and back, the hike to Ice Lake Basin is a 7 to 7 1/2 mile roundtrip, not including Island Lake. If you brought a snack, this section is a good spot to take a break and gobble up some energy for the next, most-strenuous section of the hike. The two mile hike up to Lower Ice Lake was pretty but uneventful. It should be noted here that according to our GPS the average percent grade on this portion of the hike was around 21% and at times was above 80% on the hike (40 degree incline). While there is little reprieve from the steady uphill nature of this hike, both the journey and destination make every step worthwhile. You’ll want to stay straight on the left-facing path to get to the Ice Lakes. Enjoy! Without a doubt the most beautiful and rewarding hike we've had the pleasure of trekking! That 865 feet of elevation is equivalent to 10,380 inches. But in terms of hiking conditions, it’s a breeze. The trail now climbs steep switchbacks up a headwall to the Lower Ice Lake basin. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. Expect a lot of stops and rests. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and backpacking and is best used from April until September. So sad. This is 1.7 miles from the TH and about a 1,600-foot elevation gain. This is a beautiful trail with awesome views all the way up. 550 to Mineral Creek Rd.,turn left and follow it to the Mineral Creek Campground, where the Trailhead is located. Stay right to continue on an upward path and complete this first easy section of the trail. Ice Lakes Basin sits at an elevation of 12,500 ft, and the trail begins at 9,900 ft. Because of this, some people get elevation sickness or have a hard time breathing on this hike, … Unburied feces everywhere. We were climbing to high alpine meadows and lakes and the scenery was unbelievable. This isn't an amusement park, it is wilderness. The trailhead has lots of parking, and this is a very popular trail. I did this hike on July 25, 2017 as a backup plan due to inclement weather. In the Upper Basin there are 3 large lakes including Ice Lake, Island Lake and Fuller Lake (the largest), as well as numerous smaller lakes. Once you get through this section, the scary part is over and the steepest section of switchbacks is all that lies between you and Ice Lake, Colorado! You’ll be greeted by a flowing stream without a bridge that you must cross via stones scattered throughout. The hike starts at South Mineral Creek Campground (easily accessible with low clearance cars), elevation at trailhead is 9,827 feet. After gaining 1,600-ft. in 2 miles the trail crests the ridge into the beautiful Lower Ice Lake basin. I also strongly advise trekking poles! The fourth section is by far the most strenuous part of the hike, as you traverse the last 0.75 miles on steep, rocky terrain and switchbacks — but getting to the top means a payoff view of Ice Lake! Weather was perfect. HIKE TO: Island Lake & Ice Lake TRAIL: Ice Lake Trail MILES: 7.61 mi TIME: 2 night (2:38 hr in to Island Lake; 1:55 hr out from Ice Lake) DATE I WENT: 8/30/19 - 9/1/19 DIFFICULTY: somewhat strenuous ELEVATION: 12403 ft ELEVATION GAIN/ LOSS: 2525 / 2483 ft HIKE PERMIT: no LOCATION: San Juan National Forest, Colorado At this point we had to make a decision on where to camp. Ice Lake Basin hike. On one side of this 0.1-mile section, there will be a rocky cliff face on your right and a steep, long dropoff on the left. Browse more videos. From Silverton’s Visitor Center, drive 2 miles north toward Ouray on Highway 550 (the Million Dollar Highway). Do everyone a favor and before you endeavor to hike, learn how to Leave No Trace. After navigating countless switchbacks and thinking you’ll never get to the top (at least in my case), you’ll finally get to the last section that leads to an open field that’s set in the middle of 13,000-plus-foot mountains. It goes by the name of Ice Lake Basin and the hiking trail leading to it is just as spectacular. To get to the trailhead, you just need a two-wheel-drive vehicle, as it’s very easy to traverse. It takes the average person 2,000 steps to walk a mile, so you must gain 865 feet of elevation in 1,500 steps. It’s a tough section that may require a little scrambling on your hands and feet, so you must be fully capable to get through. So you’ve made it through the 2 miles of forest trail and a brisk 0.75 miles through the meadowlands while taking in the scenic 360-degree views. lots of tourists littering/talking too loud at the top. I, personally, wouldn’t take them to Island. The second part of the trail … Waterfalls, creeks, colors galore, and the most insanely colored lake you will ever seen! It’s another world up here! Following the Ice Fire in fall of 2020, the Ice Lakes Basin Trail was closed. The third section is the easiest of the trail, navigating about 0.75 miles through mostly flat meadowlands. Gorgeous mountains, valley views, and of course the lakes. Distance: 7 miles out and back Difficulty: Challenging Elevation Gain: 2,562 Ft Time: 5 hours. The sheer, stunning beauty of Ice Lake lures day hikers, trail runners, and backpackers to tackle the 5-6 mile roundtrip hike up a heart-pounding, thigh-burning 2,420 feet of elevation gain. Just shy of 9 miles in exactly 5 hours and it was stunning! One of my favorite hikes ever! If you plan to camp, South Mineral Springs Campground will set you back $20 per night, while the other five campgrounds leading to the trail are free. A backpacking trip to this unique destination is sure to be the experience of a lifetime. Please protect our trails though. The second section is where the going gets a little tough and you may have to start taking more regular breaks to catch your breath. Posted on August 8, 2018 by Em. From here, I went to Island Lake first. Phenomenal trail. Everything You Need to Know About the Ice Lake Basin Trail Hike. Just shy of 9 miles in exactly 5 hours and it was stunning! That means you’re averaging a little over a half-foot of elevation gain per step. Trekking poles are a MUST. Phenomenal trail. for serious hikers I recommend early morning (like 6 or 7am) to avoid the crowds who lack hike etiquette. The basin has a wonderful wildflower display, a beautiful lake, and is a popular hiking and camping destination. Hiking down to the lake there are a couple sketchy places along the ridge but not too bad. 5:20. my only complaint about this trail was the amount of off leash dogs that rushed up to mine and completely ignored their owners - i recognize that some parts of the trail are difficult to do with a dog that tugs on the lead, but please at least train a recall if you need to let them off, because not all dogs are friendly - i witnessed a fight break out between an off leash dog and a reactive leashed dog on this trail which was not fun to watch lol. There is a trail that leads around the lake for the 360 deg view. After spending about 3.5 hours hiking 2,340 feet on 3.5 miles of trail, I just couldn’t fight the urge to hike a few hundred feet back to Ice Lake and simply stare at its aqua blue and greenish tones, the rugged mountains that keep it safe and take it all in one final moment before I began my descent back to the bottom. upper lake is still beautiful, even as it's surroundings are brown and barren. I ended up in the Ice Lake Basin by chance, and it definitely will not be my last time going. Follow the trail from Upper Ice Lakes Basin over a rise and across a plateau. You can camp at the first-come, first-serve South Mineral campground, which is located right next to the trailhead with 26 spots available.Along the forest road going to the trailhead, you will also find Golden Horn Campground, Anvil Campground, and Kendall Campground. A little further up the trail, at roughly 3.65 miles, you'll arrive at the faint side trail that leads towards Ice Lake. The Ice Lake Basin Trail: Blue Ice Laughing in the Sun. There are also some cool ruins there that are a bit of an eyesore, but its cool. Island Lake is phenomenal. Originally, I planned on summiting a few 14ers in the area, but four days of nonstop rain chased me away. pick up your trash. That’s what we did. The Ice Lake Basin area sits at over 12K ft and is truly spectacular! The trailhead is just outside Silverton, CO (southwest Colorado). (Including a really annoying drone buzzing around ice lake). To give you an idea of how much this trail kicked my butt, my Garmin Fenix tracker recorded the total one way hike time to directly to Island Lake to be 2:42 hr, but only 1:09 hr of actual moving time. It delivered nonstop, stunning scenery perfectly integrated with a healthy amount of rigor. Five years ago, Botsford said, a busy day on the Ice Lakes trail might see 250 hikers. I recommend you do if you have the time and stamina. Ice Lake Basin and Island Lake are located in the San Juan National Forest. Camping in the Lower Ice Lake Basin is strongly encouraged for the following reasons: The alpine vegetation in the Upper Basin is fragile and easily damaged by tents. Directions: After .5 - .75 miles of easy walking the trail steepens again as it heads up towards the upper Ice Lake basin and the terrain is … All round 10 out of 10. The Ice Lake Trail takes hikers into one of the most spectacular areas of the San Juan Mountains after a steep but relatively short journey of 3 miles, gaining 2,600 feet. This is a beautiful trail with awesome views all the way up. It is way out of its element — in the best sense of terms. Sunset on the San Juans from the Ouray Brewery We hit the road on Friday night and to be exact it was a 22 hour 40 minute all night drive from Andrew’s apartment in Indianapolis to Ouray. After navigating about seven switchbacks in a row, I began to give myself the challenge of completing three or four switchbacks before I could stop and rest. It is an easy trailhead to find. please don't be that person. We did not go to Fuller - next time! At roughly 3.5 miles you'll finally reach the upper basin. Ice Lake Basin hike. After gaining 1,600-ft. in 2 miles the trail crests the ridge into the beautiful Lower Ice Lake basin. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/ice-lake-basin-trail The only way you can really tell it’s an old mine shaft is because the 1,000-plus-pound steel mining equipment still sits on the ground seemingly untouched through the decades. Alternate destination: Fuller Lake (Colorado) Fewer people hike to Fuller Lake, making this a great place to escape the crowds in the basin. Out and back, the hike to Ice Lake Basin is a 7 to 7 1/2 mile roundtrip, not including Island Lake. This roughly 8-mile-long loop trail has incredible views of Ice Lake, Island Lake, remarkable meadows, and of course several towering mountain peaks (13ers). But anyway, back to the hike. Not quite as vibrant. Ice Lakes Basin is known as one of the top alpine lake hiking destinations in all of Colorado, where hardy hikers are treated to waterfalls, wildflowers, open meadows, beautiful rock formations, alpine tundra and, of course, spectacular snow-fed lakes. After our all too brief break in the Lower Ice Lake Basin we began our ascent to Ice Lake. There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead and at South Mineral Springs Campground directly across the road. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” If you sign in and don’t sign out, it also lets them know if someone may be lost or injured on the trail. You break treeline right around where the loop starts. The fire is located west from Silverton, CO, near Ice Lakes Trailhead, on the north side of the South Mineral Road. Now you’re in for a treat. Many people gasp at the sight of such pure azul colors and remark that this is the best scenic hike in Colorado, period. There is an excellent Ice Lake Trail (great for trail running) starting from the campground, which gradually leads into the lower Ice Lake Basin, and then reaches Ice Lake. Before you begin on the trail, make sure you sign the hiker log located at the trailhead. This beautiful vegetation is increasingly prone to trampling in recent years as more and more visitors take to the trails to take in Ice Lake’s majesty. Pro Tips; If you have the legs and the weather is good, continue another half-mile north from the Ice Lakes to Island Lake, a stunning alpine pool with, you guessed it, a large island. It gains elevation quickly. As we found out, the Ice Basin Trail is a big lollipop loop with Island Lake sitting on one side of the loop and Ice Lake sitting on the other. The Ice Lake Basin trail, though strenuous, features jaw dropping views of more than 3 alpine lakes surrounded by the jaw-dropping San Juan Mountain range in the backdrop. The over the past few months we have witnessed up to 200 cars in the lot and lined up along the road. This is, by far, the BEST hike I’ve ever done. The Ice Lake Trail was hands-down the best day-hike we took in our two and a half weeks in Colorado. Great views of a waterfall, pine forests, alpine lakes, and lots of mountain peaks. After navigating through the mile or so of the easy forest section and uphill switchbacks, you’ll pop out of the trees, into a clearing, and come to a fork in the path that veers straight (left) or right. The Empire State Building in New York City has 1,250 steps. Hi, I’m Jarrod, and I’m the guy behind Ramble Around the World. 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