Hike Lost Lake near Buena Vista at Sunrise

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Chaffee county Colorado, one of the most unique areas of the state with mountains, alpine desert, river activities, and of course plenty of hiking trails. Small towns Salida and Buena Vista in the county both offer tons of outdoor recreation. A favorite hike for many just outside of Buena Vista, is the Lost Lake trail. Recently rerouted and turned into an actual trail with a parking lot (I guess before it wasn’t an official trail), Lost Lake offers scenic mountain vistas, alpine forest scenery, and of course at the top a beautiful high alpine lake. If you’re able to get up early enough to hike this trail at sunrise, it’s even more magical. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trail, best times to hike it, trail info, and what makes this trail unique. Alright letsss dooo thisss.

How to get there and where to Park

You’ll want to head west on Cottonwood Pass, just outside of Buena Vista which will be through a series of switchbacks until you see the trailhead on the left. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Downtown. Parking will be a dirt lot right at the trailhead and can fill up during the summer and on weekends when the weather is warmer.

Is this a difficult trail

I would rate this trail as a beginner to intermediate as there isn’t too much elevation gain, yet you will have to hike over a rocky part of the trail as you reach the top of the lake. Below I listed the trail stats.

Elevation Gain: 423 feet

Distance: 3.3 miles out and back

Time: Depending on speed I would say 1.5-2 hours

Dogs allowed?: Yes, but on leash.

What is the trail like and what should we expect

The trail starts off on what appears to be an old road that will be about a mile long before you see a sign on the right that says Lost lake 3/4 of a mile. From there the trail goes through the woods on a series of switchbacks. Once you get through the woods, the trail opens up to some amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding peaks. This is where the trail gets somewhat rocky so having good hiking footwear will make a big difference!

As you trek up to the lake the trail might get somewhat confusing as you a pass the rock field on the left, just remember to stay to the right and the trail will lead you right to the lake. Please follow signage around the lake and stay on the trail.

Whens the best time to hike Lost Lake

In the summer and fall, from about late June-through the end of September. I like fall the most with this hike because of all the golden colors around the lake. You won’t be able to do this hike in the winter because Cottonwood Pass will close!

Can you Fish and/or Camp at the top

Fishing is permitted as long as you have a Colorado fishing license. However there is no dispersed camping allowed at the top of the lake. Also, please follow the signage that is posted around the lake to make sure people stay on the trail. The reason Lost Lake was recently rerouted was because of heavy erosion and damage to the surrounding natural habitat.

What makes this hike so special

The lake is different then any other high alpine lake I’ve seen in Colorado with a rock type island in the middle and a turquoise blue type color. The color comes from different mineral deposits in the area. At sunrise there more than likely won’t be anyone up at the lake, which is what makes it even more surreal. The majority of people will do sunrise hikes for local 14ers such as Mt. Princeton or Mt. Yale.

What should we pack

It depends on the time of year and time of day that you go, but for a sunrise hike I listed items that I wore below

• Burton AK Baker down Jacket- It was pretty cold when I hike it so used the Expedition Baker Down, however there are other options for a down jacket, such as the midweight Baker down, great for the majority of sunrise or sunset hikes.

• Hiking boots- Your Local REI or outdoor store should be able to get you fitted. I recently bought a pair of La Sportiva’s and really like them

• Rain Jacket- Just in case, you never know when weather will roll through in the mountains

• Hiking Pants- Anything lightweight that has stretch will work great. I personally like Fjallraven outdoor pants.

• Water Bottle- Stay Hydrated!

• Sunscreen- Gotta apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go hiking! I personally like Sun Bum because it is none-greasy.

Looking for other outdoor adventure in Buena Vista? Check out, how to spend 4 days in BV Colorado. If you have any questions or info to add drop a comment below and I’ll see you on the next post!

Snowmass Colorado, Hike Spiral Point for Sunset during the fall

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Aspennn, One of the best places to visit during the fall in Colorado. While a lot of people may be inclined to visit the Maroon Bells, there’s still a number of different hikes in the area if your unable to get a reservation for the Bells. While I was visiting the Maroon Bells, I stayed at the Stonebridge Inn located in Snowmass and after almost just watching TV for the night at the last minute I decided to hop on the All Trails app and look for trails in the area. I found Spiral Point, a shorter hike, perfect for sunset and about a ten minute walk from the hotel. I’ve done a number of hikes in Colorado, but I’d have to say this one had to be one of my favorites. The views, location, and length of the hike made it perfect for an evening fall sunset.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Spiral point, trail details, and the best time of year to hike it. Alright lets do thissss!

Where is Spiral Point

The trailhead for Spiral Point is just outside of Snowmass Village in Aspen Colorado. You’ll want to go up Brush Creek Road veer right onto Divide road, then on the right will be a small parking lot and the trailhead. The ski resort will be to your left as well as the Snowmass Mall area.

What is parking like

There is a small lot at the trailhead and if that gets full, in the fall and summer months day parking is free at the Snowmass Mall lots. These are about a ten minute walk to Spiral Point.

Is this a challenging Hike

What I liked about this hike was that it wasn’t too far of a hike to the summit, 2.6 miles out and back with 590 feet of elevation gain. It takes around 1.5 hours depending on speed. Just make sure to watch out for Mountain Bikers as this is a shared trail! If you have kids or a dog, this is also a good easy-moderate trail to do with the whole family. Just make sure your dog is on a leash!

What is the trail like

It’s not very rocky and is going to be mostly switch backs on a dirt path. Look left and you will notice part of the Snowmass Ski resort and the Maroon Bells wilderness as you hike up. This is an awesome trail for shooting photos so whether you have a digital, phone, or film camera there’s a number of spots as you make your way to the top. (including the summit!)

Best time of day and season to hike

Sunset is going to be the best time of day to hike this trail in my opinion and I would have to say in the fall because of all the golden colors that Aspen is known for. If you’ve never been to the Colorado mountains in the fall, I highly recommend making a trip out to Aspen for all of the fall foliage!

Is the trail hard to navigate and why is it called Spiral Point

The trail is easy to navigate as there will be signs at the beginning of the trailhead and at the top. You’re going to want to take the Rim Trail South and then eventually a left onto Spiral Point! You’ve made it to the summit if you see a giant marble floor with a Ying and Yang. I believe the name of the Trail comes from the 360 degree views you have at the top!

Mt Daly, Clark Peak, and Capitol Peak (a 14er that sits at 14,131 feet) will be some of the mountain peaks that you see straight ahead. The views are pretty breathtaking at sunset and definitely worth hiking for in the evening!

Tips for Hiking Spiral Point and what to Pack

Know the Sunset time

Make sure to leave yourself enough time to get up to the top and back down before it gets completely dark. Packing a headlamp with you will be very helpful for the trek back down if needed.

Wear the proper outdoor clothing and footwear

• Hiking shoes/boots- Look for anything with good traction and support. Remember to size up a little bit as your feet do swell up when hiking. I recently started hiking in La Sportiva’s and really like the designs and function of the boots.

• Beanie- Pack one of these for any sunset hike in the mountains

• Lightweight Down Jacket- Burtons AK Baker Down is packable, lightweight, and warm. Once the sun starts to set in the mountains you’ll want to bring this jacket out of your bag for warmth.

• Hiking pants- I like anything made by Fjallraven. Lightweight, moisture wicking, and fabric that stretches for easy movement when hiking.

Pack a camera

The lighting is incredible, use a phone, digital, or film camera!

Looking for other fall adventures in Aspen? Check out Maroon Bells and Crater Lake, not far from Spiral Point! Thanks for checking out the blog, and if you have any questions or comments to add, please leave a comment below.