Given monsoonal activity and quite warm afternoon weather, recommend an early start and completion around lunch. The view is gorgeous and there is a full sky of stars. Beautiful and well maintained trail. Ups, downs, and flats. This whole trail is highly used to Crater Lake, so there is no doubt what trail you should be on. The lake itself is nestled in a basin at the base of Twilight Peak, making the peak readily accessible. Crater Lake - Aspen. Great views throughout. It is 6.4 miles to the top of Molas Pass. - See 2 traveler reviews, 21 candid photos, and great deals for Colorado, at Tripadvisor. Southwest Colorado. Andrews Lake Road is 0.94 miles beyond the pass. We did not make it all the way to the lake (5/8 point), but we enjoyed our hike and proud of FAM for trying. Weminuche Wilderness Area: Crater lake trail! This hike begins at Andrews Lake just south of Molas Pass on the Crater Lake Trail #623. The halfway point is Westfir, OR. Want to go backpacking, but don’t have a lot of time to commit to a full weekend trip? Mostly out of the sun for early hike this time of year. This volcanic vent erupted at least four different times, about 60 million years ago. Numerous camping areas are evident in the trees to the north and west of the lake. The turn off is 6.6 miles beyond Coal Bank Pass and about 0.5 miles from the Lime Creek rest area. Not too much but wear appropriate shoes. Not an overly hard hike. Rocky Mountains. Haha! Great day hike in the Weminuche Wilderness area, San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado. We didn’t experience any kind of elevation anything. Weminuche Wilderness Area, San Juan National Forest, near Silverton in Southwest Colorado. At 4.0 miles the path enters heavy timber and stays in the woods for the next 1.1 miles. Driving directions from Silverton: From the intersection of Main Street in Silverton (State Highway 110) and U.S. 550, drive south on U.S. 550 for 7.3 miles to the Andrews Lake Road. Great out and back for people and dogs. ... 2017 near Silverton, CO. Jul 21, 2018 near Silverton, CO. May 13, 2017 near ... via Moffet with Colorado Hikers 6.5mi Aug 2, 2018 Jessica Bashaw. Last year, we celebrated the Animas River Trail, Animas Mountain Trail, and the Colorado Trail out-and-back to Gudy’s Rest as some of the best fall hiking trails to experience close to Durango. This is the steepest climb of the hike. 14. Any easy side trip takes hikers to a panoramic saddle above the lake. Scientists marvel at its purity: fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on earth. nt Sneffles. ... filling in local valleys and streams with a lake of lava. Beautiful! I'd normally give this a higher rating but this area is sooooo nice, you have to go do other things first (ice lake basin, Chicago basin, etc)!!! Hike up past Crater Lake just for the additional views. Located a few miles south of Molas Pass or about 12 miles south of Silverton, Colorado. Er führt entlang eines Sees, durch schönen Wald und es gibt schöne Wildblumen und oftmals Wildtiere zu sehen. Mountain View’s with meadows and a creek. Red Mountain 1 & 2, Ironton Park ... -Carbon dioxide. Distance from Trailhead: 11.8 miles (round trip). North Twilight Peak, rising to the southwest, forms the perfect backdrop for this pretty lake ringed by a forest. - Duration: 27:29. Mineral Creek and Bear Mountain. This scenic trail starts at 10,750 feet elevation and travels 5.2 miles (one way) to Crater Lake climbing to an elevation of 11,700 feet before a final descent to the lake. Turn left and drive a little over 0.5 mile on the narrow paved road to the parking area at Andrews Lake. First mile or so are gentle switchbacks, followed by a few nice alpine meadows, and a pair of tiny valleys that are so similar you'll have deja vu. miles per hour. The trailhead is located on the southwest end of the parking area. The only thing is that it said the hike was 9,9 miles, and we all recorded about 11.7 miles. ... forming slippery soils and muds like those near Silverton, Creede and Del Norte. From Andrews Lake, follow the very nice trail south for about 5 miles to Crater Lake. Crater Lake is located in the Weminuche Wilderness Area of the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado. Very enjoyable! Driving directions from Silverton, Oregon to Crater Lake, Oregon. Reaching this trailhead actually begins off of Andrews Lake - you will see signs for Andrews Lake off HWY 550. I did this to cap the day after hiking back from Chicago basin which is close by. Openings offer great views of Engineer Mountain (12,968-ft.), Jura Knob and Twin Sisters to the west. Nothing too arduous but it is long -my GPS was closer to 11.5 mi RT and 2,000’ gain. Driving Directions from Ouray: Drive south on U.S. 550 for 30.7 miles to the Andrews Lake Road. We will be back to finish the hike! Elevation took a little getting used to but the views are worth it. Photo by R. Blair. Cell service most of the way. First Family hike in Colorado elevation! We got caught in a rain/sleet/hail storm on the way down - always be prepared. This approach starts at Andrews Lake. Crater Lake to the Saddle. Panoramic views from the top provide a bird’s eye view of the Needles and the Grenadier Range to the east. Millions of wildflowers. Hike to Crater Lake in Silverton Colorado. It was chilly with frost on the ground this morning. Expect occasional gusts of winds that make for shedding and adding layers. Great Plains ... Crater Lake, OR. It’s not super strenuous at all. If you only have time for one hike in the area, there are others that offer more majestic views, but this one is solid and really lovely for an easier but still gorgeous day hike. Camped at Molas to get an early start. 1.) The next few miles aren't as good, as you're just steadily going up and down through dense forest with limited views. For panoramic views of the peaks to the west and south of Molas Pass along with a restricted view of the Needles, hike to the obvious saddle (11,770-ft.) southwest of the lake. Homemade Wanderlust 270,267 views Dogs are also able to use this trail. Distance from Trailhead: 11.0 miles (round trip). Turn left and drive a little over 0.5 mile on the narrow paved road to the parking area at Andrews Lake. Father's day hike with a 5 year old and some older children. The trail was amazing! Starting at 10,770-ft. the trail traverses a rolling terrain of meadows and forests with great views of the surrounding peaks, gaining a net 1,300-ft. in 5.5 miles. Nestled in a basin on the east side of a rugged ridge that is dominated by Twilight Peak (13,158 feet) the scenic lake is fishable for cutthroat trout using flies and artificial lures. The trail to Crater Lake is just under 5.5 miles, but it just seems to be longer, I … San Juan National Forest: Crater lake trail - See 565 traveler reviews, 190 candid photos, and great deals for Durango, CO, at Tripadvisor. This was a beautiful hike! The hike to Crater Lake does not require a big expenditure of energy for its scenic rewards. USGS image. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Good hike, best as an overnight backpacking trip perhaps. Nearby Recommended Routes. Photo by R. Blair. Colorado has an abundance of high elevation streams and lakes. Lots is scrambling, not for the feint of heard. Crater Lake is a fantastic and leisurely overnighter, totaling just 11 miles. We seen people with hiking sticks, we didn’t use any & we were ok. We’d do it again, if given a choice, but we’d rather explore new trails :). A second climb gains 370-ft. reaching the top of a hill at 2.4 miles. Seemed like many of the wildflowers were dying off but was still very pretty . Leave plenty of time to walk around the lake at the top! Aufgrund der Steigung und Distanz ist die Strecke als moderat einzustufen. It was my bf’s first real hike & he did great (he’s 6 foot, 280, walks a lot for work, athletic). And we both took a 2L hiking pack with extra water & we did good, we had some water leftover. Snowdon Peak is also accessible from the Crater Lake Trail. A viewing platform and exhibit room are typically open from late June to late October. The hike to Crater Lake is about 5.5 miles it took me about 2:30 to get to the lake. Great back pack adventure for our family. The trailhead is located on the southwest end of the parking area. Trailhead isn't marked, you have to go around the right side of the lake, then take the small side trail past a wooden fishing deck area, and you'll see the trail info sign shortly after. Silverton. Not much to it honestly - easy trail to follow and well maintained. The class 2-3 scramble requires a head for heights when crossing a narrow exposed ridge. It quickly enters the 488,210-acre Weminuche Wilderness Area, the largest designated wilderness in the […] Nothing negative about this trail. 4. The scenic trail offers spectacular views of the area, which truly epitomizes the magnificent quality of Colorado's mountains. Crater Lake has some nice places to camp, if you want to turn the trip into a backpack. © HikingWalking.com. Well worth the time! Estimated driving time is , with an average speed of about . There are a lot of even trail, obviously some up’s because it IS a mountain. The views are fine although the nicest is probably the start. The trail to Crater lake starts at the top of Molas Pass at Andrews Lake. Photo by Peter Knight. We got a late start in the day and made it before sunset. Andrews Lake Road is 0.94 miles beyond Molas pass. Distance from Trailhead: 11.8 miles (round trip) Ending/Highest Elevation: 11,770-ft. Elevation Gain: 1,000-ft. For panoramic views of the peaks to the west and south of Molas Pass along with a restricted view of the Needles, hike to the obvious saddle (11,770-ft.) southwest of the lake. An angler who is set on catching wild cutthroats usually will have the best luck in a high lake or creek. A little muddy in spots, but we were able to cross all the streams. Note: The climb to North Twilight Peak is recommended for experienced parties only. East Greenland. This is the start of the climb. The Decalibron Loop (Alma) The Decalibron Loop traverses over four Colorado 14ers in Pike National Forest located near the mountain town of Alma. This whole trail is highly used to Crater Lake, so there is no doubt what trail you should be on. As the trail swings east views open to North Twilight Peak (13,075) to the south. Lots of wildflowers still along trail. The last mile starts to open up more, with a few glimpses of Engineer Mountain here and there. Hike, hiking, backpacking, trail, gps track, images, photos, photographs, gallery Beautiful vistas of Hermosa Cliffs, Purgatory & Engineer. Basecamp(s) Information: Hellebore starting to yellow so fall is right around the corner! This is the fastest route from Silverton, OR to Crater Lake, OR. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/crater-lake-trail-2 Crater Lake Webcam This webcam hangs from the roof of the Sinnott Memorial Overlook at Rim Village. Good number of boreal forest birds. views are just OK but this is a nice, not busy, trail with a lake at the end. Fishing Method: Flyfishing, Spin Fishing Seasonal Accessibility: Late Spring/Summer/Fall Access: HorseBack, Hike The trail to Crater Lake is just under 5.5 miles, but it just seems to be longer, I don't know why, it just has that feeling to me. From the saddle, a class 3 scramble up the east ridge of North Twilight Peak provides bird’s eye views of the Needle Mountains and the Grenadier Range to the east. The lake, which sits at the base of North Twilight Peak, has several pre-established campsites where you can w… 12 miles round trip if you do that. The trail, which is near the top of Molas Pass, climbs steadily through vast, open meadows where the craggy peaks of the West Needle Mountains rise in the distance. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. The Maroon Bells is the most photographed place in Colorado, but the photos hardly do justice to the beauty you'll find there. The hike to Crater Lake starts at pretty Andrews Lake, a popular fishing spot just south of Molas Pass (see driving directions). Crater Lake Trail ist ein 11.1 Meilen langer, moderat besuchter Hin- und Rückweg in der Nähe von Silverton, Colorado. Very nice hike! Plateau. Photo by J. Sheldon. Small streams still active so plenty of water for Fido. Simply beautiful, height of wildflower season in the Weimnuche Wilderness. The trailhead is extremely well marked the entire way. Driving directions between Silverton, Oregon andCrater Lake, Oregon. At 5.1 miles the trail drops into a small depression, skirts a marshy area to your left (east), and then climbs over a hill to the basin holding Crater Lake (11,640-ft.) at 5.5 miles. Have a Backpacking Elopement at Andrews Lake to Crater Lake: Tucked between Durango and Silverton and very close to Molas Lake, you'll find the day-use area Andrews Lake. This opinionated guide includes all the hikes in the Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City sections of the website plus info on local services and nearby attractions. The Dotsero Crater is a ½ mile wide, ¼ mile deep volcano located a mile north of I-70 east of Dotsero. My trekking poles were helpful (I have bad knees) but most people wouldn’t need them. Ages 13-49 yrs. Crater Lake inspires awe. Starting at the Kite Lake Trailhead, the 7.6-mile trail gains 3,359 feet of elevation. Photographers will snap plenty of pictures of North Twilight Peak reflected in the lake’s still waters. Crater Lake Trail is a 17.9 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Silverton, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Got about 2 miles in. The trail was clearly marked and all prior comments seemed to be accurate. The … Stopped about 2 miles short of Crater lake. The faint trail swings around the east side of the lake and proceeds up a grassy slope, skirting rock piles and a small pond. The trailhead is located on the southwest end of the parking area. Starting at the southwest end of the parking area the trail skirts the west shore of the lake, crosses a meadow and ascends a tree covered hillside on switchbacks, gaining 450-ft. in 1.2 miles. Poles a must for snow and mud. From the top of the hill the trail drops 240-feet into a drainage traversing pretty meadows with pockets of Engelmann spruce and firs. Bug spray was helpful, but they weren’t horrible. Round trip to the saddle is 0.4 miles (round trip) with a 130-ft. elevation gain. Absolutely beautiful! Silverton, OR and Crater Lake, OR are in the same time zone (PDT). Beyond the second climb the trail ascends on easy to moderate grades through meadows and forests for the next 1.6 miles, gaining 400-ft. Ophir. Crater Lake Hiking Trail near Silverton and Durango, Colorado. All Rights Reserved. Long day hike, but worth the effort. Saturday & Sunday, July 13-14, 2019. Welcome to Images from Colorado, an online gallery of photographs from the beautiful Centennial State.. A large percentage has trout. This run begins at Andrews Lake just south of Molas Pass on the Crater Lake Trail #623. Only one trail, Crater Lake, penetrates this segment of the wilderness. one of three most esthetically pleasing trails I've been on! I hit the trail at about 7:00 am and I was the first person out. The whole trail is highly used to Crater Lake, so there shouldn't be any issue route finding (unless you are doing a winter snowshoe or skin) to Crater Lake. This little lake is surrounded by the following epic peaks: Snowdon Peak, As beautiful As Andrews Lake is, it's not the main attraction. The Crater Lake Trail is located about 50 minutes north of Durango at the Andrews Lake trailhead. We live in a place of 4,000 ft of elevation, and this hike was fine. Molas Lake to Animas River via Molas Trail, Coal Bank Pass to Engineer Mountain Summit, Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route. Wonderful! Crater Lake is located in the rugged West Needle Mountains, an area added to the Weminuche Wilderness Area in 1993. Climbing either of these peaks affords a spectacular, panoramic view, including the Needles, the Grenadiers, and the distant town of Silverton. The overlook was built in 1930 on a rock ledge 900 feet above the lake. Waterfall up near the end. The whole trail is highly used to Crater Lake, so there shouldn't be any issue route finding (unless you are doing a winter snowshoe or skin) to Crater Lake. My bf & I finished in about 5-6 hours total, and a grand total of 11.5 miles (starting from the parking lot to the lake itself & back). Front Range Great terrain and not too much steep up and down. I will provide directions from both Durango and Silverton at the end. Hier kann hervorragend gewandert werden. The lake, cradled in a pretty timber-lined bowl, is a photographer’s delight with North Twilight Peak (13,075), rising to the south, reflected in its still waters. Deep snow keeps the overlook closed the rest of the year. Silverton / Ouray, Region Information: In 1993 Congress expanded the Weminuche Wilderness to include the rugged West Needle Mountains, wedged between a deep gorge of the Animas River and Lime Creek south of Molas Pass. Hiking Crater Lake: This magical mountain lake is a beloved destination for hikers, runners and backpackers in southwestern Colorado. A really delightful hike! Total elevation gain from the trailhead is 2,305-ft. Lake/Pond/Reservoir, High Mountain Location: Crater Lake Elevation: 12700 Commonly Caught Species: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout Suggested Bait: Flies, lures, and bait where allowed Restrictions: Must have Colorado Fishing License to fish. Driving directions from Durango: Drive 45-miles north of Durango on US 550 to the Andrews Lake turn off. Parts of the runoff of pretty high so the more waterproof your footgear the better. Wild horses were seen at the lake. We suggest bringing extra socks to change, some snacks. Lots of scenery! Colorado. A great hike with a wonderful payoff and sweeping views on the return journey. Southern. This weekend I wanted to finally get out on our first backpacking trip into the mountains for the season. This is the only trail penetrating this segment of the wilderness. There are 146.26 miles from Silverton to Crater Lake in southeast direction and 214 miles (344.40 kilometers) by car, following the OR 58 route.. Silverton and Crater Lake are 4 hours 30 mins far apart, if you drive non-stop .. Turn right and drive a little over 0.5 mile on the narrow paved road to the parking area at the lake. 2.) It took us about 6 hours but the time flew by with tons of variation in scenery and a nice mix of up and down in both directions. Trail Runners vs Boots vs Sandals For Backpacking (plus Socks, Camp Shoes, Gaiters, etc.) Very light traffic. Some mud and streams along the way. Crater Lake Trail Round-Trip Distance: 3.6 miles Elevation: 10,076 feet Mostly snow packed trail from snow 4 days ago. Lovely overnight stay! After Atwood & Mather, 1932. Fishermen may want to try their luck at catching some of the lake's cutthroat trout. This trail begins at Andrews Lake just south of Molas Pass on US 550. Solid 4 star but not 5 as mountain views were excellent but not spectacular. To climb North Twilight Peak (13,075-ft) proceeds west from the saddle, climbing the mountain’s northeast shoulder and east ridge. Views from the meadows around Andrews, along with intermittent views from openings in the trees while climbing the hillside, include West Turkshead (12,849-ft.) and Grand Turk (13,180-ft.) to the north, Twin Sisters (13,432 and 13,372) and Jura Knob (12,594) rising on the ridge to the west and Snowdon Peak to the southeast. Hills were not steep, and terrain constantly changed between forest and lush meadows. No real steep spots as trail is long for the elevation gain although the 575’ elevation gain on return gets your attention. Fishing for rare species nearly always means heading to the high country. A high country trail wanders through cool forests and open meadows while flirting with stunning views of the surrounding San Juan Mountains.