We took our friend here for their visit and it was perfect. Map. General Information Directions: I-70 westbound, Idaho Springs exit #240 - Hwy 103.Go south for approx. Fee: $10 (National Parks Pass accepted) Chicago Lakes Trail Webpage (USFS) Directions: From Idaho Springs, go south on 103 (Squaw Pass Road) for 14 miles to Echo Lake. It provides access to the Chicago Lakes Trail (#52)and the Resthouse Meadows Trail (#57). Check out this 17.6-mile point-to-point trail near Chicago, Illinois. Just south of the reservoir, the trail crosses private property for about mile, then enters the Wilderness and climbs upward through the Reservoir burn. After Hours Non Emergencies Phone: 303.679.2393. Beautiful hike! Fort Collins, CO 80526 Darting back into the trees, the first Chicago Lake sits at treeline. (Hard). To begin this adventure, we drove up to the Summit Lake parking lot at around 5am. The Chicago Lakes Trailhead and Trail: Park at the Echo Lake lot, where youll find the sign for Chicago Lakes Trail 52 on the west side of the lake. Ive seen one other website where someone claimed it was 12 miles as well. Rocky but well maintained. Tennessee Hikes. 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. The scenery just gets better and better as you go. 4 wheel drive recommended. It is very easy to extend the hike beyond where the All Trails route endswell marked. The upper lake was beautiful and the perfect spot to take a break and have a snack. The first segment to the creek is often done by families. It was a beautiful hike though and would definitely do it again. These are not easy dayhikes, so be sure you prepare and bring the 10 Essentials (really, we should always pack the 10 essentials) :) Id recommend picking up a Trails Illustrated map or printing off a quad map of this before taking the route. 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. The trail will turn into Idaho Springs Reservoir Road, then will return to a normal trail. From Idaho Springs: Take exit #240 onto Hwy 103. Beautiful hike and great for dogs. Nice pass through snow storm made for really great pictures. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building E The Mt. So pretty in the fall with the trees changing color. Experience this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Definitely needed snow shoes for the last part of the trail after the dam. Pretty icy but did just fine with our yaktracks. An unofficial-looking sign correctly points up this road on a steady climb to Idaho Springs Reservoir (1.65 miles : 10,617'). She wanted to hike our beautiful mountains. Both lakes offer . United States. Trip Reports Nebraska Hikes. The weather in the Mount Evans Wilderness can change rapidly; be prepared for high winds, snow, rain, hail, and intense sunlight. Easily one of my favorite hikes in Colorado since you get to explore three separate lakes and decently varied terrain This one is no cakewalk though, its got some steep sections and is consistently uphill. Visit "Where can I get vaccinated" or call 1-877-COVAXCO (1-877-268-2926) for vaccine information. It was flat and well maintained. Campfires are permitted for dispersed backcountry camping, with potential seasonal and elevation restrictions. Hiking conditions are best from July through September. Narrow in some parts. Want to take in some of Colorados breathtaking scenery and put some miles under your hiking boots? Slushy snow the whole way with some bare patches. Go south for approx. Gorgeous day! One member of each party is required to register at the Mt Evans Wilderness boundary board and carry a copy of the registration with them during their visit. Wildflowers are starting to bloom at the upper lake. Failure to return the key when due may result in loss of the privilege to borrow the key. 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. In time, spruce and fir will overtake them and return the forest to its ecological climax. Only a couple scrambles but it is a slower go than you might think. We hiked a short section of this trail in May while exploring the area. The park serves as a trailhead for hiking or snowshoeing into the Mount Evans Wilderness, offers picnic areas, and includes a nearby campground with 17 sites. The trail continues, faint at times, up a steeper section to Upper Chicago Lake. But before travelers can savor the cherry on top of this road-trip sundae, they have plenty of sights to see. It sure is a beautiful area! New Mexico Hikes. * There are several . Cutthroat trout can be found in each, along with brook trout in the reservoir. Lots of people stopping in to look at the lake. The north segment of trail from Echo Lake down to the Idaho Springs reservoir on Chicago Creek was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and was called the Chicago Reservoir trail or simply the Reservoir Trail. Perfect trail! Idaho Springs Reservoir via Chicago Lakes Trail, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/home/?cid=fsm91_058362. Be sure to bring these along, just in case. 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. Vicinity: Near Idaho Springs As youll see in the comments on this hike, people come back with different trail lengths. When I have visitors in town that enjoy hiking, this is the place I take them. About 3 miles instead of the full 4. Great 4 mile hike. 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. Then, some people opt to hike around the lake, which adds to the hike as well. This is a great day hike! Once you get down the mountain theres about a mile long stretch to the reservoir where you get a fantastic view of the mountains! Located at the base of Mt. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Great hike with lots of beautiful places to camp near both Lower and Upper Chicago Lakes. Bikes, mechanized vehicles and hunting are. The Chicago Lakes hike begins at Echo Lake. Once you get down the mountain theres about a mile long stretch to the reservoir where you get a fantastic view of the mountains! If you go out to Chicago lake just note that you start high and then go down and then back upetc, and it's out and back so the last leg back can be quite a workout after you've done 10+ miles. You may want to start early, especially in the Summer months so that you have the time to explore and to avoid our famous, afternoon Colorado thunderstorms. The Chicago Lakes Trail begins at Echo Lake (west side), 13.25 miles south of I-70 on HWY 103. 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. The trail has a lot of character: steep areas, massive cliff walls, and expansive meadows. An official website of the Went in December and the Lakes were totally frozen over which was magical. The upper lake was amazing. Tell us when your experience with this trail happened. I am coming to Denver end of October (18-23). The Idaho Springs Reservoir is located approximately 11 miles south along Colorado Highway 103. 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. I can see why this is a popular one. This is a great hiking area an hour outside of Denver, Colorado. It is very easy to extend the hike beyond where the All Trails route endswell marked. Two hundred feet past mile marker 9, on the right side of Highway 103, is the gated access road. And if you are interested in the Mt. Evans summit. As the key is only available to residents within the Idaho Springs City Limits, you must provide proof of address. Evans or down to the Chicago Lakes basin. based on 5 tracks & routes | #50 hike out of 256 in Arapaho National Forest | EASY smartphoneSave Hike View Photos ( 20) fullscreen link share Share Driving Directions file_download GPX/KML 1.2 mi Distance 37 min Time terrain 338 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a easy one way trail in Arapaho National Forest. Views are amazing! Didnt love the dirt road for 1.5 miles. Only a couple scrambles but it is a slower go than you might think. Read more Idaho Springs, Colorado Echo Lake to Summit Lake 11.1 mi / 3419 ft gain Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 1 min to complete. According to my GPS, this was about 12 miles. I was in awe the whole time. Idaho Springs, Colorado Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek 15.87 mi / 4859 ft gain Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Idaho Springs, Colorado. I didnt see any signs for the reservoir, only Chicago lakes, so we didnt fully complete and turned around at the creek passing. The lakes were a popular destination even before the National Forest was established. It levels across a major tributary through treeline (3.2 miles : 11,321') to a marked spur for lower Chicago Lake (3.95 miles : 11,545'). So beautiful and surprisingly empty for a Saturday. Designated in 1965, this 207 acre natural landmark is located on city-owned land. The creek at the bottom provides a nice resting area. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/chicago-lakes-trail, Apres hike after at: The deposit will be refunded in full if the key is returned on time. Follow the trail which parallels Chicago Creek towards Idaho Springs Reservoir. Arrive early to secure parking, avoid crowds and afternoon thunderstorms. Proof of City residency or property ownership is required. Nice pass through snow storm made for really great pictures. The trail is usually pretty doable by Independence Day. No busses allowed. Gorgeous day! Gaiters might be a good idea. From I-70, exit #240 and head south on HWY 103 (toward Mt Evans) for 13 miles to Echo Lake. At the 2-mile mark the road reconnects with the Chicago Lakes Trail. The trail is intermittently rocky and steep heading up the valley with a full view of Mt Spalding, and a partial look at Mt Evans. It climbs through a burn area, the result of a fire in the 1970s, then continues to climb to Lower Chicago lake. It crests a ridge in open tundra overlooking upper Chicago Lake, from which the shore is easily reached (4.9 miles : 11,733'). Youll hike Mount Evans is a simple, yet drop dead gorgeous 14er. A short climb past a second Chicago Lakes Trail sign crests over a deep gorge carved by Chicago Creek with views of Mt Spalding and Mount Evans in the distance. 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