Situated under a ring of jagged mountain peaks, hiking the Blue Lakes Trail leads visitors to three vibrantly colored lakes in the Mt. Sneffles Wilderness in southwest Colorado. The landscape in the area is dramatically different than the rest of Colorado, as is the color of the water. Craggy mountain peaks feel rugged and remote, while lakes colored in vibrant shades of blue and green take your breath away. Southern Colorado certainly has a different feel.
The first time I hiked the Blue Lakes Trail was on a girls road trip. I choose to come again with my husband, Andy, and one year old baby because the trail wasn’t too difficult to haul a baby up it (at least if Andy is carrying him). As an avid mountain biker, he doesn’t like to hike unless I have an epic destination in mind. This was one of them.
Our drive there was, unfortunately, more eventful than we expected.
The Journey
Driving at night has been the easiest option traveling with a little one. Usually, he sleeps and we end up at, or close to, our destination. Andy is a night-owl and doesn’t mind the late nights. But this time was different.
After an alternate route around Glenwood Canyon due to mudslides, we started heading south on McClure Pass. It was a dark, rainy night. Before we left town, we had picked up churros from a local food truck. As I handed it over to Andy for a bite, we hit a large rock that had fallen in the road. Not only was our tire blown, but we had taco’ed our wheel. Luckily, the next car behind us was a police car from a town nearby.
A local cop had been patrolling the road to McClure Pass because of all the recent rockslide activity. With no cell service, we were luckily he stumbled upon us and offered to help change our tire. We had everything we needed to change a tire – other than the lock to take the tire off the back of the van.
Rain was pouring down heavily. The cop ran to the nearby firestation to find a sawzall to cut the lock off. It wasn’t charged. An hour into the ordeal, a fireman who had just finished his shift stopped to offer help. In the cold, wet night, he was standing outside in shorts and a t-shirt. But he knew where the bolt cutters were.
Once we had the right equipment, it took seconds to cut the lock off and 20 minutes to change a tire. Andy was soaked and we were still 3 hours from our destination. But he was determined to wake up at the trailhead, so we continued on, carefully. That was one expensive churro.
Where to stay near the Blue Lakes Trail
Dispersed camping is available on the road to the trailhead on a first come, first served basis. Most spots are within the last few miles before the end of the road. There are no amenities and some spots require an off-road capable vehicle to access.
Luckily, even in the dark, we found a beautiful dispersed camping pad to park our van. Waking up in a beautiful spot made the long night worth it.
Ridgway, located on Highway 550 about 1.5 hours south of Grand Junction, is the closest town to access the Blue Lakes Trail. Accommodations are limited, so booking ahead of time is recommended. There are some hot springs resorts in the area, which would be the perfect place to unwind after the trek. Telluride is another hour south of Ridgway and makes for a longer day trip.
Hiking the Blue Lakes Trail
Starting from the Blue Lakes Trailhead parking lot, the trail starts off flat for only a short distance before you veer off to the right. Follow the sign for the Blue Lakes Trail as it begins a steady incline. At about 1.5 miles in, the trail crosses a small stream. In early summer, the water is high, making for a more difficult, but doable, crossing. Your shoes just may get wet if there’s not logs laid out. Around 3 miles, the trail flattens out. Backpacking sites are dispersed through this area and the lake is just beyond them.
Meandering through dense forest and open fields, the trail climbs about 1,600 feet and roughly 3+ miles to the Lower Blue Lake. Climbing steadily, the distance and the mileage were manageable with a one year old in a pack. Most importantly, the payout was worth the grind.
Hiking the Blue Lakes Trail feels like hiking through the European Alps. Rugged mountains plunge steeply to the valley below, filled with large alpine fields dotted with wildflowers.
Upon reaching the lakes, you are rewarded with a vibrant, electric turquoise-colored Lower Blue Lake that sits at the bottom of a glacial basin. Look to the right of the lake for some walking paths to find the perfect picnic spot.
For better views of the lake, continue upward to the Middle and Upper Blue Lakes. There are great views looking down at Lower Blue Lake well before you reach the other lakes. To access this trail, head back through the campground and look for a river crossing on the right. There are usually some logs stacked across the river, but you will still need to tread carefully, especially with a baby backpack.
The trail picks up again on the other side of the river. It’s another mile and about 1,000 feet of climbing to reach the upper lakes. Total trail length to the Upper Lakes is 8.7 miles and about 2,500 feet of elevation gain.
Directions to the Blue Lakes Trail
From Denver, it’s a 6+ hour drive to the southwest corner of Colorado. The trailhead is located off of Highway 62 between Ridgway and Telluride. Turn onto Dallas Creek Road, CR 7, and continue for about 9 miles. The paved road eventually gives way to a dirt road and the last few miles are rutted out, making for a bumpy ride. Eventually, the road dead-ends at the parking lot for the trail.
Where to eat in Ridgway
Ridgway is a small town with some great options to fuel up before or after you hike.
Cimarron Coffee Roasters is a cozy little coffee shop and bookstore that roasts all their own coffee beans. They make a strong and satisfying cup of coffee along with fresh pastries.
Hungry? Head to GNAR for some asian fusion tacos and tasty margaritas. With unique combinations such as the Korean BBQ, filled with bbq steak, housemade kimchi and habanero aioli or the Lambrizo with house lamb sausage, ginger miso, pineapple salsa and coconut curry aioli, it’s hard to make a decision. But you should definitely make room in your stomach for the Sketchy Fries. Sketchy fries are a big heaping of tater tots smothered in queso blanco, chorizo, and their housemade creamy sauce. So delicious and filling after a long day!
Where should you go after hiking the Blue Lakes Trail? Explore camping at Silver Jack Reservoir, a remote alpine lake, visit Telluride for some easily accessible hikes from town, stay in the quaint and quiet town of Ouray, or stop by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison for a half-day adventure.