Telluride Colorado, Hiking and Backpacking the Blue Lakes trail

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So you’ve gotten your backpacking gear and your looking for beginner to intermediate trails to do an overnight backpacking trip. One of the best places to start is Colorado, known for it’s immense amount of hiking trails throughout the state. Within Colorado are the San Juans, unlike any other mountain range in the state. Not too far from small towns Telluride and Ouray is the Blue Lakes trail, an amazing scenic hike with 3 alpine lakes at the top. It’s a doable day hike, but definitely worth backpacking camp gear and food in for a couple nights. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the Blue Lakes Trail, what to pack, trail details, and what to expect. Alright lets do thisss.

How to get there

Drive through the Southwest part of Colorado and turn onto a dirt road (County Road 7) all the way to the trailhead for 4.3 miles. You don’t need AWD, but it helps. There will be a few bumpy areas, but overall the road isn’t too bad. Below I listed times and distances from major areas with Telluride having the closest airport.

Denver- 6 hours/336 miles

Telluride- 1 hour and 15 minutes/44 miles

Summit County- 5 hours/268 miles

Vail- 4 hours 15 minutes/240 miles

Durango- 2.5 hours/95 miles

Flagstaff- 7 hours/378 miles

Best time of year to backpack this trail

Mid June-Late September depending on snowfall and weather!

Can you park overnight for free

Yep, no overnight permits needed to park at the trailhead. Since the trail does get heavy usage in the summer, I recommend getting to the trailhead earlier to grab a parking spot.

Does the Blue Lakes Trail require permits to hike and camp

As for now NO, However! there is a proposed permit system by the Forest Service for future use going on right now in regards to how many people can hike the trail in a given day as well as camp overnight in a given day.

What to Pack

If your new to backpacking there’s a number of items I would recommend having to make the camping more enjoyable. The key with packing your camp gear into a spot is to keep the pack as light as possible. I listed the necessities below. I use Mountain Hardwear for my camp gear, however brands such as Nemo, North Face, Marmot, and REI all make great backpacking gear as well.

• Lightweight sleeping bag/Sleeping pad- There’s two types of sleeping bags, real down and synthetic down. Real down is more lightweight and packable while synthetic will hold its loft if it gets wet. I like real down because of the weight. It also can last up to 30 years if you take care of it. You’ll also want a backpack specific sleeping pad. Some people use foam, but I personally like REI sleeping pads.

• Water filter and water bottle- Use a filter for clean water from a natural water source. REI will sell these along with packable water bottles.

• Hiking boots/Socks- A pair of hiking boots with good traction and support is a must along with breathable socks that dry quick and wick moisture. Smartwool make my favorite hiking socks.

• Backpacking pack- I use a 70L Mountain Hardwear pack to carry everything I need, but a 50-65L pack will work great too. Make sure to buy a backpacking specific pack and purhase a pack that works best for your body size.

• Lightweight tent- Make sure that it is specific to backpacking

• Pocket Rocket Burner and Packable - A pocket burner is what you’ll cook food on and it’s very lightweight and packable. Also needed is fuel, utensils, and a stove to cook everything.

• Headlamp- Very useful, especially in areas that don’t allow campfires.

• Power Bank- Keep electronics charged up

• Rain Jacket- Lightweight and waterproof is the name of the game. Burton AK rain jackets check both of those boxes.

• Down Jacket- Once the sun goes down in the mountains at a high elevation, it can get cold, even in the summer. Burton’s Baker down is perfect for summer hiking missions, with it being lightweight and packable.

• Wilderness Wash- Get this at an outdoor shop or a local REI store. Works for handwashing, showering, and washing dishes.

• PackTowl- A lightweight camping towel

• Hiking Poles- These might seem kinda whack, but they work great for rocky hikes and maneuvering on trails

• Bug Spray- Summer is prime for Mosquitoes, gotta have bug spray

• Bear Spray/Bear Bag- Keep food sealed up and at a distance from camp.

• Alltrails app- I use this for app trail reviews, info, and navigation. Download the trail ahead of time for the best navigation!

What to Expect

The trail is great if you’re not looking to do anything too exteme, but still want awesome views of the surrounding terrain. This hike is also a doable day hike. Expect some elevation gain as you make your way to the lower lake as well as the middle and upper lakes. One of my favorite things about backpacking this trail, was making dinner up near the top lake for Golden Hour. There wasn’t anyone around and the golden sun shining on the San Juans was pretty epic. Check out the trail details below that I found on Alltrails.

Elevation Gain- 2,509 feet

Trail Type- Out and Back

Dogs Allowed- Yep and must be on leash in some areas

Mileage- 8.7 Miles

Time- Average of 5 hours and 8 minutes

Beginner Backpacking Tips

If you’re new there’s a few things to keep in mind to make the adventure more enjoyable. I’m still learning, but here’s a few things I’ve learned from friends and by doing.

• Less is more- Try to pack only what you need for the trip. No more then one other pair of clothes to change into. People backpacking will typically just hike and wear one set of clothes for the entire adventure.

• Keep the waist part of your pack tight as you want most of the weight of the pack to be carried on your hips not shoulders.

• Be prepared for weather- See packing list above for details.

• Plan ahead- Make sure to plan your route ahead of time and look at a map before you set out on the trail, majority of high alpine environments won’t have cell service.

• Be prepared in case of an emergency which includes having a first aid kit. It also is helpful to have a Garmin inReach in case you need to message or contact anyone.

• Pack food and meals that are easy to cook and cleanup. REI will have a number of backpacking meals that only require boiled water. Snacks such as beef jerky, trail mix, and trail bars are also great food items to bring.

• Camp and use the bathroom at least 200 feet from water and dig a hole if you are going to the bathroom. They sell backpacking shovels at any outdoor store.

• Pack out what you packed in

Trail Details

Once you’ve parked and grabbed your pack, you’ll notice signage for the start of the trail right by the bathroom. You’ll be entering the Mt Sneffels wilderness part of the Uncompahgre national forest. The first part of the hike will be through a wooded area with a good amount of elevation gain (about 2,300) before it starts to level out near the lower lake. As you get closer to camp there will be a waterfall on your left.

My friends and I set up camp at the lower lake, as there were a number of spots going around it. Keep in mind that you must be at least 200 feet away from the lake and that there are No campfires allowed.

There is also a great view of the lower lake if you take the trail that goes to the upper lakes. Use your All Trails downloaded map for help with navigation from the campsite.

Once you have camp set up, I recommend grabbing your dinner, utensils, your stove and heading up to the middle and upper lakes to catch the sunset while eating a good camp meal (weather depending). As you hike up to the top lakes, notice Mt. Sneffels to the left. This is a well known 14er in Colorado with an elevation of 14,159 feet. The Blue Lakes trail is one of the ways to hike to the peak of this 14er and I noticed couple of people heading up to do it with helmets on the following morning

The views when hiking to the upper lakes are some of the best I’ve seen thus far in Colorado, so pack a camera if you got it or use your cell phone for some amazing photos and enjoy the surrounding landscape of the San Juan mountains

Can you fish in the lakes

Yep, just make sure your Colorado Fishing license is up to date. This can be purchased/renewed online or typically at a local fly fishing shop

Should we check out any of the surrounding towns and the Million Dollar Highway

As mentioned above there will be three small towns close to the trailhead; Ouray, Telluride, and Ridgeway. All three have great restaurants, outdoor shops, hot springs, and lodging if you wanted to clean up for a night or two and chill before heading home. It’s also fun to hang out in either town for the afternoon and grab a bite somewhere after doing a backpacking trip.

Ouray will be a little more low key then Telluride with the Million Dollar Highway right outside of town. For a quick bite I recommend Maggies Kitchen. Inexpensive Burgers and fries that are pretty amazing. Drive south out of town and you’ll be on the infamous Million Dollar Highway. This highway goes from Ouray to the town of Silverton for 25 Miles, with the peak being at the top of Red Mountain Pass. I took it to the top of the pass (13 miles) from Ouray and then drove back. There’s pull-offs along certain parts of the highway for scenic views, just make sure to be careful driving this road as there are no guard rails with steep drop offs.

Looking for more Colorado adventure? Check out Leadville Colorado, a small town with lots of outdoor recreation. If you have any questions or information to add, please leave a comment below! It’s always cool to connect with people on here. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.

Breckenridge Colorado, The ultimate hiking guide to Mohawk Lakes

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Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

If you’re looking for amazing hiking trails in Colorado, Summit County in the summer and fall will have some of the best hiking in the state. Old mines, alpine lakes, mountain views, and waterfalls are handful of reasons to wake up early to go hiking on any one one of the many different trails in the area . Just outside of Breckenridge is a fun day hike and an entry level backpacking hike called Mohawk Lakes. No overnight permits needed and it’s a doable hike in one day.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Mohawk Lakes, trail details, what to expect, and overnight backpacking info. Alright lets do thisss.

Where is Mohawk Lakes

Located in the White River National Forest of the Rocky Mountains, Mohawk lakes is in Blue River Colorado, just outside the town of Breckenridge. Part of the Ten Mile Range, this trail is a favorite for locals and visitors. Other towns nearby are Fairplay, Alma, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.

Coordinates for the trailhead

39.437050, -106.050660

How to get to Mohawk Lakes

The starting point for Mohawk lakes will be at the Spruce Creek Trailhead off of highway 9, 10 minutes south of Breckenridge. If you take I-70 or 285 you’ll end up on highway 9 and then turn onto Spruce Creek Road. From there you’ll pass by a number of houses in a neighborhood and drive up on a dirt parking lot. On the weekends the trailhead gets pretty crowded so try to get there really early or around noon to beat the crowds. It’s ok to park on the side of Spruce Creek Road as you’ll notice plenty of vehicles leading up to the trailhead on busier days.

Below I listed times and distances from major areas in Colorado to the trailhead.

Denver

• I-70: 1 hour 45 minutes/84 Miles

• 285: 2 hours 10 minutes/106 Miles

Boulder

• I-70: 2 hours 25 minutes/90 Miles

• 285: 2 hours 45 minutes/117 Miles

Colorado Springs

• US 24 W to CO 9 N: 2 hours 8 minutes/103 Miles

Fort Collins

• I-25 South to I-70 W: 3 hours 15 minutes/144 Miles

How long is the hike?

It really depends on your speed, but for day hiking it has taken me about 6 hours round trip to the top lake, which includes hanging out at each lake for a little bit. I’m sure it can be done in a much quicker time frame, it all depends on your speed.

Elevation Gain: 2,106 feet/642 Meters

Distance: 8.4 Miles/13.5 Kilometers

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Trail Type: Out and Back

Can families with children do this hike

Definitely, I’ve seen a number of families on this trail with kids and even moms and dads with the backpacks that carry toddlers or infants in them.

Best time to Go

Depending on the snow year, End of June through late October. If we get a lot of snow that season, then the trails usually are not free of snow until late June. On the flip-side, if it starts snowing early in the fall, trails may not be as easy to hike, making it less enjoyable. I’ve been in September as well as in the summer and both are some of the best times of the year to hike this trail. Fall is a nice time in Breckenridge to hike any trail because of the leaves changing, so that’s also something to consider when deciding when to do the hike.

Like anything, weekends will be a lot busier as well as mornings. I would either try to go really early in the morning or mid day as long as there aren’t any afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast!

Are dogs allowed on the trail

Yep, you will see dogs along the way, most are off leash too. Always try to keep your dog in site if off leash, because there is plenty of wildlife in the area!

Can you Backpack this trail

Yep, it is a great trail if you just got into back packing and want to test out your equipment and get use to your pack. No overnight permits are required and you also do not need an overnight parking pass to leave your car at the trailhead. Make sure to check fire restrictions in the area if you decide to build a campfire!

Trail Details and how to access the Upper Lake

Once you’ve parked your car you’ll want to look for the Spruce Creek Trailhead, located on the left side of the road right after the main parking lot area. This part of the trail takes you through a wooded area until you reach the first lake. As you walk through the woods, you’ll pass by an opening on the right side that opens up to some of the best views of the hike, overlooking part of the Ten Mile Range. This is also a perfect resting point if you aren’t use to the elevation!

From there you’ll continue on the Spruce Creek Trail until you hit Spruce Creek Road (the same road where you initially parked, but much farther up the mountain). This road will take you to the start of the Mohawk Lakes Trail:) The first lake you’ll come up on is Mayflower Lake, follow the signage for a slight detour on the Mayflower Lakes Trail to access this lake.

Once you get back onto the Mohawk Lakes trail the elevation gain gets a little more intense and it also becomes a little more difficult to know if you’re on the right trail or not. My best advice is to look either at a map on All Trails (download ahead of time due to lack of service) or to follow the signage and trail as best as possible. There will also be incredible waterfall views as you make your ascent to the Lower Lake. Lower Falls Vista will be near a couple historic mining structures, while Continental Falls will be on your way up to the lower Lake on the right side of the trail. Again, there will be signage along the way to access these waterfalls.

After you pass the waterfalls you’ll continue to hike up steeper areas of the trail. The trail will begin to level out and that’s how you know you’re approaching the lower lake. The lower lake has an open backdrop surrounding it, perfect for photography. As mentioned earlier this is a great spot to set up for camping if you back packed up to the lake. I didn’t hike to the top lake until the following morning, but if you set up camp early enough I’m sure golden hour at the upper lake is pretty special.

If you camped at the lower lake and are motivated enough, I would recommend waking up early to catch the sunrise!

best-backpacking-tents

Now that you’ve made it this far, keep going! and head up to the last part of the hike, the Upper Lake. This will be about 15 minutes from the lower lake and the climb isn’t too bad. You’ll hike one last small climb before you reach the top. There’s plenty of places at the top to take in the scenery, chill, and eat a snack. You’re also allowed to fish in the top lake as long as your Colorado Fishing license is up to date.

What to Pack

1. Rain Jacket- Weather shows up at any given moment in the Mountains, always pack a lightweight rain shell. Burton makes great rain jackets for men and women that have cool patterns and will keep you dry on your hikes!

2. Sunscreen- Hiking at a high altitude=increased sun exposure so make sure to apply this at least 15 minutes before you venture out. I like Sun Bum, which can be found online at Hansens surf shop out of Encinitas California.

3. Hiking Poles- Although these might seem “uncool”, they help a lot with balance and footing when hiking. Head over to REI or your local outdoor retailer, as they have a great selection.

4. Hiking Boots- Proper footwear is a must. There is a ton of options when it comes to hiking boots. These can also be found at REI or your local outdoor gear shop.

5. Outdoor Clothing- Although outdoor clothing can be expensive it does last a long time. It will be more lightweight, moisture wicking, and more stinkproof when doing stuff outdoors. Try to stay away from anything cotton. I personally like Fjallraven and Mountain Hardwear, but Patagonia, Burton, North Face, and Columbia all make great stuff.

The Descent

Watch your footing as you make your way back down the trail. Please note uphill hikers have the right of way. When you come to the point of taking the Spruce Creek trail back to the parking lot, there is also a service road, on your left, Spruce Creek Road, if you don’t feel like walking through the woods again. The road will probably be a little quicker, and also will take you back to the parking lot.

Please note, if you don’t feel like hiking all the way to the lower lake or top lake you can take a detoured trail (Mayflower Lakes Trail) from the first lake, back to the parking lot.

Watch your footing as you make the hike down as there are rocky, bumpy, and slippery areas. I would definitely do this hike again and I recommend it to anyone in the Summit County Colorado area that loves to hike.

Looking for more Colorado adventure? Check out Leadville, another small mountain town in Colorado not far from Breckenridge. Thanks for checking out the Blog and I’ll see you on the next post.