Hidden Gem Hikes in Colorado, Hiking the Waterdog Lakes Trail near Salida

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So you might be visiting Salida Colorado for a day or maybe you are looking for something new or different in Colorado for hiking. If you’re looking for day hikes in the Chaffee county area, Waterdog Lake up near Monarch Pass is a good simple hike with some nice views towards the top. It’s a shorter hike, but one of my favorites from the summer so I figured I would write a quick blog post on the trail.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trailhead, what to expect, and of course trail details. Alright lets do this!

Where is Waterdog Lake and what about Parking

So.. from downtown Salida you’ll want to get on Highway 50, drive past Poncha Springs and take a right at the stoplight. From there you will stay on Highway 50W and take that up about 1/2 way until you see a parking area on the left. This trailhead is kind of hidden from the road so look for the sign across the street from parking and that is the start of the trail! Be careful when crossing this road.

What should we pack

Because you will be at a higher elevation (over 11,000 feet at the lake) and in the mountains, I would one, always be prepared for weather, and two, pack warm clothing, even in the summer! Below I listed items that you should have on this trail.

• Hiking Pants or Shorts- The best hiking apparel is anything that is lightweight, durable, water resistant, and has some mobility. I like Fjallraven, Patagonia, and Vuori.

• Hiking Boots- Whatever is the most comfortable is what I would recommend. You’ll need a boot that has good traction and support. Try them on at your local REI or outdoor store. My favorite brand lately has been La Sportiva because they have hiking models that are lightweight, contain Gore-Tex, and have great traction.

• A Rain Jacket- Lots of different jackets on the market. Really what you want to look for is how lightweight the jacket is and what the waterproof rating is. Lightweight jackets are nice because of the packability, add Gore-Tex and the jacket will be more durable and waterproof.

• Sunscreen -Because your at a higher elevation, you’ll need to protect your skin! Sun Bum all the way when it comes to sunscreen.

What should we expect

Most of this trail you’ll be walking through alpine forests with slight views of the mountains as you make your way up towards the lake. Rocky in areas, but nothing too extreme. The trail itself is pretty straight forward and well marked. One thing to consider is, weather can roll in because this is a mountain area! So make sure to check the forecast ahead of time before driving up Monarch Pass to do this hike.

Best time of year to hike this trail

This trail is actually open year round because in the winter you can snowshoe or skin up to the lake. Skinning up means you have these traction skins on the bottom of skis or splitboard that grip to the snow allowing you to go up the mountain. For hiking, it is best hiked from Mid May through early October, depending on snowfall!

Trail Details

You’ll start the hike going through switchbacks of pine trees, until you start to reach more rocky areas in the trail with some incline. The middle of the hike is when you’ll get slivers of mountain views (Banana Mountain 12,284 Feet). Hike this in the afternoon and the light will peak through the trees making this hike even more magical.

You’ll continue on past the electrical line poles where the trail flattens out before ascending up the mountain with more elevation gain. As you hike towards the lake, turn around to take in the scenery!

Trail Stats

• 3.2 Miles

• 1066 Feet of elevation gain

• Dogs allowed, but should be on a leash

Although the lake is small, what I love about this area of Colorado is how chill and secluded it felt at the top. The Monarch area doesn’t get the traffic other mountain areas do in Colorado.

Is there an Upper Lake

There is an upper lake, however there is no direct trail to it. I didn’t make it to the upper lake, but if you’re interested, download the trail ahead of time on AllTrails, and the map will guide you to the Upper Lake!

Looking for more adventure near Salida? Check out the town of Buena Vista, with hiking, rafting, river surfing, and other outdoor recreation.