Twin Lakes Colorado, A Complete Guide to the Interlaken Trail

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Alright so you’re in Colorado and are looking for a cool historic hike to do. Well, the one unique thing about Colorado other then the amazing outdoor recreation is the historic background a lot of the small towns have. One of these small towns (about as small as a town can be), Twin Lakes, has a handful of cool hikes to do. One of these hikes happens to be the Interlaken trail, an area that was built in the late 1800’s for more affluent people looking to vacation and get away.

What I like about this trail is it’s right on the lake and doesn't have much elevation gain. Perfect for families with kids along with anyone else who are looking to spend time outside, but don’t want to do a strenuous hike. In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trail, what to pack, what trail is like, and what to expect. Cool lets gooo

What is the story Behind Interlaken

James Stanley was the man who built the Twin Lakes Resort, after seeing possibilities of the growing Lake County area. In 1883 he sold the resort to James Dexter who then renamed it Interlaken. Guests would take a train to a town five miles east of the resort and then travel the remaining way by a wagon. In the winter, horse driven sleighs took guests across the frozen lake.

Summertime at Interlaken included playing cards, shooting pool, hiking, riding horses, and relaxing. In the winter people went skiing, ice skating, and even sleigh riding. Eventually with a dam being built and lake levels rising, the bridge to the resort became partially flooded and In 1899 Dexter died, along with the resort.

The only resurrection of the resort was during World War I, when the area was turned into boardinghouse. By the mid 1970’s, Interlaken was restored to be enjoyed as a Historical Site, which is what you see today.

How do I get to the Trailhead

Twin Lakes will be in between Leadville and Aspen with the Trailhead located right before the start of the lake. There are a few ways to get to CO Highway 82, which is the highway the lake is located off of. From Highway 82, you’ll then turn onto county road 25, a dirt road that gets rockier towards the trailhead. I recommend having a vehicle with all wheel drive because of the rocks. If you don’t have AWD there’s the parking lot on the right when your first driving on county road 25. The trailhead is walkable from the first parking lot. Finding the trailhead on this road can be a little confusing, but if you keep going straight, the road eventually veers right, around a corner and you’ll see the parking lot from a distance

The parking lot is pretty big and practically empty midweek and you’ll also notice BLM campsites dispersed all around when driving to the trailhead. Below, I’ve listed times and distances from major areas.

Denver- 2 hours and 15 min/117.5 miles/189 km

Summit County- 1 hour and 15 min/55.5 miles/89 km

Leadville- 27 min/22 miles/35.5 km

Aspen- 1 hour and 15 min/39 miles/63 km

Vail- 1 hour and 8 min/60 miles/95.5 km

Trail Details

A great way to navigate hiking trails such as Interlaken is by using AllTrails. They’ll have trail reviews, info, and a way to navigate the trail if you get lost. Just make sure to download the trail ahead of time!

Trailhead Coordinates: 39.074280, -106.310420

Trail Type: Out and Back

Distance: 4.6 Miles/7.5 km

Elevation Gain: 213 feet/65 meters

Dogs: Are allowed

Trail Time: Depending on speed and how long you stay at Interlaken, 1.5-3 hours

When is the best time to hike this trail

The best time to to hike this trail would be Late May to early October, due to weather and snowfall. Midweek will be a lot less crowded and because Colorado tends to get thunderstorms popping up in the afternoon, I would recommend hiking this trail in the morning.

What is the Trail like and what should we expect

The trail is pretty flat overall with not too much elevation gain making it a fairly easy hike. You’ll get a mix of hiking through trees and lake views to the right most of the way. If you want to stop for a break there’s a couple areas where you can walk down to the lake and hang out. The Sawatch Mountain range can be seen off in the distance, with the second highest peak in North America being Mt Elbert.

Three quarters of the way through the hike, you will come across Aspen Trees, depending on rainfall and time of year, this area is pretty green. It’s a perfect part of the trail if you are into photography.

Once you approach Interlaken there’s a great porch at the main house to take a break and eat lunch (pack a lunch or snacks for this hike). Interlaken is a cool area to just walk around and check out the historical buildings. Each area will have information that you can read surrounding the story of the resort, pretty cool stuff to be honest.

The main house, that was home to James Dexter, is open to the public to walk around in. There’s a book you can sign and also an upstairs to check out. Porch views overlook the lake and surrounding mountains, making it a great place to hang out while you eat something. After checking out the Dexter home, there will be a trail that leads you to the other buildings, including the Interlaken Hotel. These buildings have been long abandoned, but still remain intact allowing you to picture what life use to be like.

Is there another way to get to Interlaken without hiking the trail

Yep, you can rent a Kayak or canoe from Johnny Canoe right on the lake or you can do an Interlaken Boat Tour. To make a reservation visit Twin Lakes Boat Tours website. Johnny Canoe will be near the White Star Campground and there is day parking for a small fee. If you have a paid campsite just use your campsite parking pass and parking will be free.

One thing to keep in mind is if it’s really windy chances are you won’t be able to get out on the lake with a rental kayak, canoe, or SUP for safety reasons.

Best tips for hiking this trail

• Check the weather before hand and make sure to pack a rain jacket. Thunderstorms can pop up in the afternoon, so the earlier you get to the trailhead the better. It also doesn’t hurt to pack an extra layer in case temps drop.

• All wheel drive or 4 wheel drive will help when driving to the trailhead. If you don’t have AWD there will be a parking lot to your right when driving on county road 25 and you’ll have to walk a little further to the trailhead.

• Bring a lunch or snacks for when you reach Interlaken. There’s a few good areas to sit and hang out with views of the lake.

• Also make sure to pack a water bottle for the trek.

• Pack out what you pack in. Meaning don’t leave any trash or waste behind on the trail.

• Don’t feed any wildlife and keep your distance! Colorado is home to moose, bears, foxes, deer and more. Please be courteous.

• There are no restrooms at the trailhead so make sure to go before hand.

• The sun in Colorado can be intense because you are at a high elevation. Apply sunscreen before you start your hike. This includes lip balm. A hat will also be beneficial for sun protection.

• Proper hiking footwear is helpful whenever your out on a trail. If you don’t have hiking boots, hiking shoes will work too because the elevation gain isn’t too high

• Be respectful when visiting this historical site and be sure to leave the area how you found it!

What should we pack for our hike

Below I’ve list a few important items that will make your hike much more enjoyable

1. Sunscreen- Since you’re at a higher elevation, the sun’s UV rays will be more intense. This is a must for any outdoor activity in Colorado. I personally like Sun Bum because it isn’t greasy and is Paraben free. You’ll also want to make sure to use lip balm with SPF protection in it.

2. Hiking footwear- Having the proper hiking boots or shoes will make your hike much more enjoyable. When buying hiking boots you’ll want something with good support and traction. I recently bought a pair of Merrell’s and I think they make some of the best hiking footwear.

3. Rain Jacket- I would advise packing a waterproof jacket that is lightweight and packable. Rain showers can happen at anytime in Colorado, so make sure to pack something that will keep you drive if that happens. I really like Burton rain jackets, but brands such as Patagonia, Marmot, Columbia, and North Face all make great Waterproof rain jackets too.

4. Water Bottle- Always pack water when going on a hike! Hydroflask makes some of the best water bottles, keeping water cold for 24 hours.

That’s it for hiking the Interlaken trail, if you’ve hiked this trail before or if you have a question, please leave a comment below! If you’re looking for more outdoor adventures, subscribe to our email newsletter below. Thanks for reading the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!