The hike/scenery was exactly what we had hoped to find! Quite icy in one area near the edge of the mountain. It provides access to the Chicago Lakes Trail (#52) and the Resthouse Meadows Trail (#57). The trail to the second lake, which is above treeline, is difficult to follow at times and is very steep. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. Thanks. Use of the key is limited a 24 hour period per request designating the number of persons in the permit holders party and description of the allowed vehicle. It climbs through a burn area, the result of a fire in the 1970s, then continues to climb to Lower Chicago lake. The lake spur is clear at first, but entangled by willows that require some force to break through and reach the shore (4.1 miles : 11,420'). While the Mt. Failure to return the key when due may result in loss of the privilege to borrow the key. It was a beautiful hike though and would definitely do it again. The road is Colorado Highway 5, and you can check its status at http://www.cotrip.org/ Evans Wilderness. Only a couple scrambles but it is a slower go than you might think. The trail undulates ruggedly on a fast descent through healthy spruce and fir to Chicago Creek (1.1 miles : 10,342'). Echo Lake Trailhead is located south of Idaho Springs on Hwy 103. Summit Lake Park - Idaho Springs. The trail is usually pretty doable by Independence Day. No fires except in designated fire pits on City property. Overall the hike was peaceful, quiet, great views, and the lake and reservoir looks amazing iced over! Be mindful of changing weather patterns and aim for treeline well before storms develop. Comments. Both lakes offer . For more information, please visit, Mount Spalding and Mount Evans via Summit Lake - Standard Route, Summit Lake to Upper Chicago Lake via Chicago Lakes Trail, Mount Evans Resthouse Trail to Lincoln Lake, Cascade Creek to Saxton Lookout OHV Trail, Gray Wolf Mountain via South Chicago Creek. Be sure to bring these along, just in case. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 1 min to complete. Didnt love the dirt road for 1.5 miles. Had the most perfect hike! adventures and follow local regulations. Nice pass through snow storm made for really great pictures. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. ", "Dogs must be on a leash in Mount Evans Wilderness and legal hunting is permitted. Skip to content FatManLittleTrail. There is tree cover just below Upper Chicago Lake with good views over Lower Chicago Lake. The climb to Summit Lake was mostly clear of snow. Evans Road, Echo Lake sits next to Squaw Pass Road, providing a great jumping-off point for numerous adventures. A good workout- going up both ways! Chicago Lakes Trail (#52) Length: 6 miles ONE-WAY Elevation: 10,331 feet - 12,868 feet Trail Description: Begin at the Echo Lake Trailhead. Join our Community. Fort Collins, CO 80526 So, to clear this up: Beginning at Echo Lake, the trail is 4.24 miles one-way to the lake. Im from Ohio so this was another world for me. There is a trail that connects with the Chicago Lakes Trail, a trail that will take you up to the summit of Mt. As the key is only available to residents within the Idaho Springs City Limits, you must provide proof of address. Beautiful hike and great for dogs. Tell us when your experience with this trail happened. With the current road closure on Mt Evans, the walk down the road was incredibly peaceful and relaxing. Share sensitive information only Dispersed backcountry camping is permitted in the Arapaho National Forest and Mt Evans Wilderness Area. Gaiters might be a good idea. Didnt love the dirt road for 1.5 miles. connected to the .gov website. We took our friend here for their visit and it was perfect. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Still worth it, though. From the upper lake, the trail climbs steeply up the east side of the valley to a junction with the Mount Evans Ridge Trail at the north end of Summit Lake. Two hundred feet past mile marker 9, on the right side of Highway 103, is the gated access road. I can see why this is a popular one. The views are absolutely breathtaking. Tennessee Hikes. Its one of my new favorites for sure. Check out this 17.6-mile point-to-point trail near Chicago, Illinois. Trail is unmarked but lots of hard packed snow. 12 mile to the junction of Hwy 103 and 5, the trail starts behind the Echo Lake Lodge. Not a great trail for dogs especially with it being snowy and icy. Ignore a social trail leading across the creek to a popular bouldering area on the east side of the valley. Get a good, early start to avoid any potential bad weather. Elevation starts at just over 10,000' with a gain of 3300'. I think this trail should be "hard" versus "moderate" . It has a couple scary rocks you have to cross. Beautiful views at the top!! The trail circles Echo Lake and connects to several other trails: Chicago Lakes, Bear Track Lakes trails, which give you access to Mount Evans Wilderness Area which is full of other great hiking trails,and Mt. You'll see moose, mountain goats, elk, and big horn sheep. The trail continues to the upper lake, above treeline. The Mt. The upper lake was beautiful and the perfect spot to take a break and have a snack. Go south for 6.5 miles and turn right on southwest Forest Service Road 188 (West Chicago Creek Road). Make sure to bring water & a little snack. Definitely bring Yaktraks or spikes for this one! Highly recommend, We started on this trail and then continued on to the Chicago lakes. Colorado Wildside 276 subscribers Chicago Lakes in Idaho Springs, Colorado Day Hike Video Arrived at Echo Lake around 6:30 on 5/31 and there were about 10-15 cars at that time. Definitely micro-spikes needed and snowshoes towards the top. Definitely bring Yaktraks or spikes for this one! The trail has a lot of character: steep areas, massive cliff walls, and expansive meadows. The trails has. Evans summit. It is located near Idaho Springs and features three lakes. It's still easily accessible in the winter and most of the time it can be hiked without snowshoes. The upper lake was amazing. Narrow trail. Print/PDF map. ", "Nice hike to great views of lower lake above falls in the cirque of the upper lake. From Idaho Springs at the intersection of I-70 and Highway 103, proceed south on Highway 103 to mile marker 9. At a Glance General Information Directions: I-70 westbound, Idaho Springs exit #240 - Hwy 103. Despite its skeletal appearance, the forest is in a natural state of recovery. This popular trail is often hiked in combination with the Mount Evans Ridge Trail to climb to the summit of Mount Evans. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 1 min to complete. Evans Road, through the entrance station and take this all the way up to Summit Lake Park. Lots of snow, we did not have snowshoes, but they would have helped. Overnight camping at or adjacent to the reservoir on City property is permitted only with adequate sanitary facilities.No camping is permitted on or adjacent to the access road. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. I did this hike with my wife today and it was awesome. Summit County - Eagle County - Clear Creek County, Fredonia Gulch Trail to Hoosier Ridge - Red Mountain, 10,617' - 11,733' (11,752' max elevation), +1,116' net elevation gain (+2,392' total roundtrip elevation gain), "The trail is clear to the lower lake. There was enough snow but didnt need. From the marked spur, the main trail continues above Chicago Lake up and down a rugged knoll and last thick patch of forest to the lake's far side. on official, secure websites. Its a good trip to warm up on before trying longer ascents. If you see mile marker 10, you have gone too far. Campground Reservations: Echo Lake CG West Chicago Creek CG ( Goliath. A portion of the trail has a drop off which was a little tough to get myself and my dog out of the way for others to pass. Mountain views. Box 3307 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303.567.3000 Denver Mountain Parks 201 W. Colfax, Dept. An unofficial-looking sign correctly points up this road on a steady climb to Idaho Springs Reservoir (1.65 miles : 10,617'). Please follow the route up the debris flow, avoiding trampling the sensitive tundra vegetation nearby. Would have been incredibly difficult without. That being said, no 14er is easy by any means. You'll reach Lower Chicago Lake in just 3.95 miles. Golden CO 80401. All trash must be picked up and carried out of the Reservoir premises. No motorized equipmentor mechanized transportation. Evans. Not too difficult, not too easy. Located at the base of Mt. The first time was October and I extended it into a 14er, but wouldnt recommend that. Season: Midsummer through mid-fall. She wanted to hike our beautiful mountains. Permits are free, but registration is required for Mount Evans Wilderness. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. I can see why this is a popular one. Camping is prohibited within 100' of any lake or stream. South Dakota Hikes. A great trail for intermediate hikers and dogs. It crests a ridge in open tundra overlooking upper Chicago Lake, from which the shore is easily reached (4.9 miles : 11,733'). If it did go to Summit Lake, it was poorly defined above the upper lake and hikers generally just made their own way.On 10/9/1978, the Reservoir Fire began from an abandoned campfire near the south end of the reservoir. ", "Hiked Chicago Lakes to Summit Lake and walked down the Mt Evans road. Be the first to share your experience. Photograph Ancient Bristlecone Pines on Mt. . Go south for approx. Discover this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. According to my GPS, this was about 12 miles. It was flat and well maintained. Chicago Lakes - MEWA - fishing in Idaho Springs, Colorado. The Idaho Springs Reservoir is located in the upper portion of the Chicago Creek watershed at an approximate elevation of 10,600 feet and is a popular destination for hikers and anglers alike. Even the dogs had a great time! Hikes. AJ Ive done this hike twice now. United States. I especially enjoyed the solitude mid-week. Evans Wilderness area. Go south for approx. Explore this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. on official, secure websites. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The weather in the Mount Evans Wilderness can change rapidly; be prepared for high winds, snow, rain, hail, and intense sunlight. Please be considerate of your drivers and offer to help pay for gas. Only saw 3 people Saturday afternoon. * There are several . connected to the .gov website. The trail will diverge away from Echo Lake and will traverse along a scenic valley with mountain views off in the distance. Early quad maps from the early 1900s show the trail and two cabins in the vicinity of the lower lake. Please arrive a few minutes early to arrange rides. Follow access road 2.75 miles to the Idaho Springs Reservoir Dam. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. However as far as 14er's go, this is a cake walk. After crossing the creek, follow the sign indicating that the trail follows the dirt road and hang a left; from here, you'll reach the Idaho Springs Reservoir is a little over 1.5 miles. After Hours Non Emergencies Phone: 303.679.2393. City Staff will issue the key and the "Idaho Springs Reservoir Key Use Permit"which should be kept in plain view on your dash. Facilities include vault toilets and seasonal water. Mountain views. in between the towns of Evergreen and Idaho Springs. Plus there were lots of aspens changing right before you got to the trailhead. 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