Also, be aware that shortly after the campground the road becomes only 4WD accessible. Stony Pass, ATV Trail 821, and Cinnamon Pass OHV Route, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=42984&actid=50, https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd719782. Trail Information : Trail descriptions, statistics, and more All round 10 out of 10. This juncture is intermittently marked with a cairn and is easy to miss. So sad. It leads you through old-growth forest to subalpine meadows, to alpine tundra and views of mountain lakes and rugged 13,000+ peaks. At 2.2 miles, the secondary trail to Island Lake takes off to the right at 11,460 feet. if you aren’t an experienced hiker, or you like to really take your time, you need to start EARLY because this one is going to take you a few hours. Make a sharp right onto County Road 7 and follow the gravel road for 4.4 miles to the trailhead parking area on the north side of the road across from the South Mineral Campground. Waterfalls, creeks, colors galore, and the most insanely colored lake you will ever seen! Weather. You can camp at the first-come, first-serve South Mineral campground, which is located right next to the trailhead with 26 spots available.Along the forest road going to the trailhead, you will also find Golden Horn Campground, Anvil Campground, and Kendall Campground. Pass through more fields of columbine, paintbrush and buttercups to the upper basin at 12,200'. You break treeline right around where the loop starts. From the trailhead, a hike of a little more than three miles, with an ascent of about 2,400 feet, leads to one of the most spectacular settings in Colorado. Awesome views and trail. After gaining 1,600-ft. in 2 miles the trail crests the ridge into the beautiful Lower Ice Lake basin. Upon reaching the lower basin great views open to Fuller, Vermillion Peak, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob rising above the … A fire sparked Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, near Ice Lake Basin. please don't be that person. You’ll pass through aspen, conifers, and into two distinct basins above the … It delivered nonstop, stunning scenery perfectly integrated with a healthy amount of rigor. Unfortunately this trail is grossly over used and abused. Ice Lakes Basin is located near Silverton, CO, a mecca of hiking, backpacking, and camping! During July and August, you will pass through a stunning array of flowers at each level. I went clockwise, although either direction looks good. Trekking poles are a MUST. This isn't an amusement park, it is wilderness. The trail offers a number of activity options. The Ice Lake Basin Trail is a tough hike to stunning views, incredible wildflowers, and electric blue alpine lakes — it’s certainly worth the climb. Things to note: heaps of side trails, so easy to get lost. Wondering how the situation is now. The trail starts below treeline near the South Mineral Campground at an elevation of ~9,800 feet. Go north of Silverton on Hwy. Vermillion, Fuller, Pilot Knob and Golden Horn are climbed from this basin. The updated closure (Forest Order SJ-2020-10) applies to ALL public entry, including hikers, mountain bikers, snowshoers, skiers, and all motorized use including snowmobiles. From Silverton: To reach the trailhead from the intersection of Highway 550 and the turnoff into Silverton (Highway 110), drive 2 miles north toward Ouray on Highway 550 and look for the turn off to South Mineral Campground which is Forest Road 585 (also called County Road 7 or South Mineral Road). This section is fairly flat for the next two-thirds of a mile. Ice Lake Basin Trail [CLOSED] is a 9.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Ophir, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Ice Lake Trail (505) Area Status: Open This trail is short and steep. One of my favorite hikes ever! The trail from the junction up to and through the Lower Ice Lake Basin is very easy compared with what you have experienced thus far. Ice Lake is a must! From there it is a steady uphill climb to the Lower Ice Lake Basin and then to the Upper Ice Lake Basin. (Including a really annoying drone buzzing around ice lake). It is not surprising at all that a recent fire has destroyed over 600 acres of this area. Weather was perfect. The shades of blue in the lake change when the sun ducks behind the clouds; countless colors of greens and blues can be seen depending on the amount of light that is reflected. If you have the time and energy to explore more of the upper basin area before returning to the trailhead, two popular side trips are to Island Lake and Fuller Lake. It's very challenging but the views are 100% worth the hiking. Maude. Phone: 800-COLORADO Ice Lake Trail is a portal to an enchanting alpine basin in Colorado’s southwestern San Juan Mountains, about six hours from Colorado Springs. Ice Lake Trail . Ice Lake Basin is Island Lake. Some tricky scrambling on a cliff edge just after Ice Lake - but do it slowly, it will be fine. The nicest lake is Ice Lake, the first lake you see in the upper basin. A seasoned explorer in … The lower lake comes into view at the two-mile mark. The trek up to Ice Lake Basin is short, steep, but not technical. The Ice Lake Basin and aquamarine Ice Lake at 12,300 feet is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. I took the trail counter clockwise towards Island lake and I'm pretty happy I did because I saw the lakes from least favorite to favorite. Ice Lakes Trailhead at South Mineral Campground Camping. There is a restroom by the trailhead, but it is closed from October - April. Ice Lake Trail . This trail was recommended to us and it did not disappoint. Very upsetting. And I feel like a complete champion for having completed it solo! Trail Attributes. We didn’t have any hiking poles but after today we are definitely going to get some. We started our hike at 7:30/7:45 on a weekday morning and there were only a few other cars there. Please protect our trails though. The views along the hike are amazing. Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. This turn off is located between mile markers 72 and 73. Ice Lake (Oregon) Ice Lake, in the Ice Lake Basin of Silverton, Colorado; Ice Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in the list of lakes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington state; Other uses. Physically difficult but well worth the work. Just be sure to park in the South Mineral parking lot, they have a sign explaining the trail. The over the past few months we have witnessed up to 200 cars in the lot and lined up along the road. I hiked this trail in early October, and I started before sunrise. Hiking down to the lake there are a couple sketchy places along the ridge but not too bad. The trek up to Ice Lake Basin is short, steep, but not technical. These are non-system trails that are not maintained by the San Juan National Forest. Following the Ice Fire in fall of 2020, the Ice Lakes Basin Trail was closed. We went to the upper first then down to ice lake which is a color blue that barely looks real. On recommendation, we went up to Island first and then to Ice Lake. The parking lot is at N 37 48.394, W … Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. It seems much to our sadness most of these people have no clue about Leave NO Trace. The jagged 13,000+ peaks surrounding Upper Ice Lake Basin include (from north to south). Do everyone a favor and before you endeavor to hike, learn how to Leave No Trace. I've never experienced the shortness of breath I did on today's hike. Ice Lake is located in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado. A permit system is now in place which you'll need to obtain from the Columbine Ranger District in order to hike this trail. Ice Lake Basin Featured Route 7.3mi San Juan NF. It delivered nonstop, stunning scenery perfectly integrated with a healthy amount of rigor. In the Lower Basin, there is a shallow lake to the south of the trail. Switchbacks, wildflowers, meadows, and more, read more about this absolutely essential trail and all it has to offer. lots of tourists littering/talking too loud at the top. Total Length 3¾mi; Elevation Range It is closed temporarily due to fire-related hazards. Places. From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. Very challenging. The fire started near the parking lot for the ice lake basin trail, and now 600 acres have burned. The Ice Fire area closure includes the lower Ice Lakes Trail, the lower Clear Lake Road, and the South Mineral Road (NFSR 585) from a new gate just past Goldenhorn camping area to where it crosses Clear Creek past South Mineral Campground. And, as we quickly realized, our crew wasn’t at Ice Lake. Cascade Creek Trail (510) Cave Basin Trail (530) City Reservoir Trail (542) Clear Creek Trail (550) Coal Creek Trail (677) Columbine Lake Trail (509) Continental Divide NST Trail (813) Corral Draw Trail (521) Crater Lake Trail (623) Deer Creek Trail (678) Divide Lakes Trail (539) Dry Fork Trail (616) Dutch Creek Trail (516) East Creek Trail (535) Dogs are also able to use this trail. Turn left on County Road 7 (signed for the South Mineral … This is a rocky section with a drop off that could be challenging for some. I, personally, wouldn’t take them to Island. The perpetual beauty that permeated the journey was bested only by the destination. The trail might be difficult, but that doesn’t seem to deter the thousands of hikers this trail sees every season. Be careful not to slip when coming down. The Ice Lake Basin and aquamarine Ice Lake at 12,300 feet is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. Gorgeous mountains, valley views, and of course the lakes. The Ice Lake Basin Trail is a tough hike to stunning views, incredible wildflowers, and electric blue alpine lakes — it’s certainly worth the climb. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike to creekfalls and waterfalls too. The shades of blue in the lake change when the sun ducks behind the clouds; countless colors of greens and blues can be seen depending on the amount of light that is reflected. Lower your voice so everyone can enjoy the trail and not your conversation about your dog. If you walk down the drainage for a few hundred feet below Ice Lake you will © 2018 - All Rights Reserved - San Juan Mountains Association | Web Design by Sweet P Web Development, Junior Naturalist Field Camps (Grades 1-6). Forest: San Juan National Forest District: Columbine Ranger District Description: Ice Lakes Basin is at the headwaters of Mineral Creek outside of Silverton, Colorado. Sunset on the San Juans from the Ouray Brewery We hit the road on Friday night and to be exact it was a 22 hour 40 minute all night drive from Andrew’s apartment in Indianapolis to Ouray. Lower Ice Lake Basin Lower Ice Lake Basin. While there is little reprieve from the steady uphill nature of this hike, both the journey and destination make every step worthwhile. From the Ice Lakes basin Trailhead, this 8 mile round trip trail with 3000 feet of elevation gain will bring you to the Ice Lakes Basin with an abundance of beautiful lakes, especially Island Lake and Ice Lake. The perpetual beauty that permeated the journey was bested only by the destination. Five years ago, Botsford said, a busy day on the Ice Lakes trail might see 250 hikers. Use the wag bags available at the trail head or buy some prior to visiting and pack your toilet paper and waste out. This is due to the obscene amount of human waste left around the lake and trail. Ice Lakes. This is a beautiful trail with awesome views all the way up. Upon reaching the lower basin great views open to Fuller, Vermillion Peak, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob rising above the … See the official news release and closure information here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?aid=62986 Learn More. Ice Lake Trail (505) Area Status: Open This trail is short and steep. A seasoned explorer in … This trail is excellent and a beautiful place to hike. It is located at the very beginning of Lower Ice Lake Basin. Yes, the hike is strenuous but it is absolutely worth it. Lower Ice Lake is slightly below timberline, at the base of a towering ridgeline. This is, by far, the BEST hike I’ve ever done. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. Trail on Ice Lake, Clear Creek, and South Fork Mineral Creek in San Juan National Forest. Ice Lake is breathtaking, take plenty of water and a few snacks to keep your energy up. Loving nature means respecting it. The Ice Lakes Basin trailhead begins from the dirt parking lot across the road from South Mineral Campground. From Ice Lake the trail turns south and climbs another 330 feet to Fuller Lake, the highest and southernmost lake in the basin. The trail concludes at Ice Lake, which is the bluest lake you will ever see. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike … the trail is almost entirely inclined up to ice lake and the hills only get steeper as you get closer. Follow the good gravel road for 4.4 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right (North) side of the road, just across from the South Mineral Campground. There is an excellent Ice Lake Trail (great for trail running) starting from the campground, which gradually leads into the lower Ice Lake Basin, and then reaches Ice Lake. A fire started when I just started the hike, saw people running down and l left too, later saw the smoke became massive as I was driving out of the mountain. It can make anyone feel like a … This road is suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles, though there may be some potholes to avoid. The trail is one of the most popular hikes in southwester Colorado. Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. At roughly 2.2 miles in and an elevation of 11,400 feet, you’ll reach Lower Ice Lake Basin. It is definitely worth starting early to avoid the crowd. A side trip to Island Lake to the northeast adds about 1.12 miles round trip and 130′ elevation gain. The trail to Ice Lakes basin traverses through pine forest and treks through lush meadows filled with Columbine flowers and stalks of corn lilies. You’ll pass through aspen, conifers, and into two distinct basins above the … Follow the main trail the entire way, but look for a small cairn on the right upon reaching the basin—this unmaintained trail climbs to the magnificent Island Lake, and is a great option for runners looking to get off the beaten path. Ice Lakes can also be accessed via the Phelps Creek Trailhead via the Leroy Creek Basin route or Carne Mountain High route with some off-trail … Ice Lake, Ontario, a lake and a community in Canada; Ice Lake, New Zealand, in the list of lakes of New Zealand; United States. First of all, thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Great views of a waterfall, pine forests, alpine lakes, and lots of mountain peaks. Bring plenty of food and water! After 2 miles of climbing, the trail traverses through the Lower Basin. Featured Routes. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. Unburied feces everywhere. Vermillion, Fuller, Pilot knob and Golden Horn are climbed from this basin. This section is fairly flat for the next two-thirds of a mile. At this point, the trail emerges from the cover of the forest and opens up to a mellow meadow section. It is 3.5 miles to the Ice Lake, and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. The Ice Lakes trailhead is located about six miles west of Silverton. Ice Lake has to be one of the most spectacular destinations for the hiker that wants an experience to remember. On the way up to the first basin you will pass a Clear Creek waterfall on the right and an old mill off to the left. It is uphill all the way to the lake basin. pick up your trash. Want to learn more about our current projects, ways to stay involved and news from the San Juan Mountains Association? The large waterfall is from Fueller Lake. Be very cautious when hiking the trail where it transitions from the lower basin to the upper basin and vice versa. your voice travels on peaks. Activities to enjoy in the area include hiking, trail running, backpacking, mountaineering, photography, fishing, and wildlife, wildflower and scenery viewing. Ice Lakes Basin is located near Silverton, CO, a mecca of hiking, backpacking, and camping! As we found out, the Ice Basin Trail is a big lollipop loop with Island Lake sitting on one side of the loop and Ice Lake sitting on the other. Ice Lakes Basin sits at an elevation of 12,500 ft, and the trail begins at 9,900 ft. Because of this, some people get elevation sickness or have a hard time breathing on this hike, … Total Length 3¾mi; Elevation Range Follow the trail across a flatter approach to Ice Lake and marvel at the deep blue-green color that changes as shadows cross the lake. We are in good shape and are fairly experienced hikers, so we chose to do the trail up to Ice Lake, then went over to Island Lake (a little sketchy in one part), and looped back around and down. Ice Lake Trail is a portal to an enchanting alpine basin in Colorado’s southwestern San Juan Mountains, about six hours from Colorado Springs. I’ll still give it a 5 star and hope someday I can come back for it. First off the area is being evacuated today due to fire, so make other plans! Trash left by hikers. See more ideas about ice lake, san juan mountains, southwest colorado. 550 to Mineral Creek Rd.,turn left and follow it to the Mineral Creek Campground, where the Trailhead is located. my only complaint about this trail was the amount of off leash dogs that rushed up to mine and completely ignored their owners - i recognize that some parts of the trail are difficult to do with a dog that tugs on the lead, but please at least train a recall if you need to let them off, because not all dogs are friendly - i witnessed a fight break out between an off leash dog and a reactive leashed dog on this trail which was not fun to watch lol. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd719782. In heading left, we hiked our tired legs straight to Ice Lake, and completely missed Island Lake. Vermillion, Fuller, Pilot Knob and Golden Horn are climbed from this basin. At this point, the trail emerges from the cover of the forest and opens up to a mellow meadow section. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. I had no issues with the drive. Trail Description: The hike to Ice Lakes begins from the South Mineral Campground in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado. Follow the trail from Upper Ice Lakes Basin over a rise and across a plateau. The views of the mountains are gorgeous. The Ice Lake Basin and aquamarine Ice Lake at 12,300 feet is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. Trail on Ice Lake, Clear Creek, and South Fork Mineral Creek in San Juan National Forest. The Ice Lake Trail was hands-down the best day-hike we took in our two and a half weeks in Colorado. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike to creekfalls and waterfalls too. Toilet paper is every where on the ground. Enjoy! This lake with a unique island, is in its own cirque surrounded by U.S. Grant Peak and its ridges. Switchbacks, wildflowers, meadows, and more, read more about this absolutely essential trail and all it has to offer. You will see 5 lakes if you follow the trail all the way, and there are several more lakes if you explore around the basin. The trail: The trail switchbacks for a few miles up toward Ice Lake Basin where it eventually levels out. From the trailhead, the path ascends steeply uphill, gaining 1,600 feet in two miles as you burst into meadows that teem with wildflowers for much of the summer. The Ice Lake Basin trail, though strenuous, features jaw dropping views of more than 3 alpine lakes surrounded by the jaw-dropping San Juan Mountain range in the backdrop. The Ice Lakes Trail offers a lot of variety. From late July through August, the wildflowers are spectacular, with sub-alpine species in the Lower Basin and alpine species in the upper basin. pick up your trash. The trail now climbs steep switchbacks up a headwall to the Lower Ice Lake basin. Phenomenal trail. Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202 Dec 21, 2013 - Beautiful Alpine basin in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado, with three pretty lakes - Ice, Fuller and Island. The first half is below timberline and passes through aspen and conifer vegetative zones. There’s a rock wall that you need to scale/climb, and it’s obviously doable...but I’d make sure you have a pretty high fitness level and that you’re not wearing a big pack on your back. Ice Lakes Trail [CLOSED] is a 8.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Silverton, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Featured Routes. Spend some time exploring the basin or return the way you came. The Ice Lakes Basin Trail is located near Silverton, Colorado, within the Columbine Ranger District of San Juan National Forest. Very difficult if you aren’t used to the elevation, as there is so much climbing. Ice Lakes Basin is known as one of the top alpine lake hiking destinations in all of Colorado, where hardy hikers are treated to waterfalls, wildflowers, open meadows, beautiful rock formations, alpine tundra and, of course, spectacular snow-fed lakes. Dogs are also able to use this trail. The Ice Lake Trail takes hikers into one of the most spectacular areas of the San Juan Mountains after a steep but relatively short journey of 3 miles, gaining 2,600 feet. Quite busy but people very spread out. The Ice Lake Trail was hands-down the best day-hike we took in our two and a half weeks in Colorado. Round Trip Distance: 7.3 miles to Ice Lake & 8.4 miles to Island Lake; Difficulty: Strenuous; Elevation Gain: 2,430 feet to Ice Lake & 2,550 to Island Lake; Peak Elevation: 12,265 at Ice Lake & 12,400 at Island Lake; Amount of Time Needed: 4 to 5.5 hours; Trailhead Coordinates: Ice Lake Basin Trailhead, Silverton, Colorado A side trip to Fuller Lake to the south adds about 1.75 miles round trip and 335′ elevation gain. Likely this fire due to the carelessness of a hiker or camper. Trail Attributes. Much of the green is gone but we enjoyed the fall colors along with the weather which was a bit cold and breezy at the lake. Expect a lot of stops and rests. As you go all the way to the Upper Ice Lake it becomes rather treacherous just before the end because of how steep and rocky it is. I didn’t have any, and there were some spots that were roouuughhhh without them. It was beautiful. Length 8.2 miElevation gain 2798 ftRoute type Out & back The Ice Lake Basin Trail is NOT under a permit system. Weather. Not quite as vibrant. If you’ve got time visit upper ice lakes is another mile and 400 feet higher than Lower Ice Lakes and enjoy a relatively easy walk up the shoulder of 9,060 foot Mt. Highly recommend! The trail wastes no time gaining elevation, climbing 1,600-ft. in 2-miles through forests and wildflower-filled meadows to the beautiful Lower Ice Lakes basin. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” At roughly 2.2 miles in and an elevation of 11,400 feet, you’ll reach Lower Ice Lake Basin. From the trailhead, a hike of a little more than three miles, with an ascent of about 2,400 feet, leads to one of the most spectacular settings in Colorado. Ice Lake is a brilliant ice blue color and is in a cirque under 13,767-foot US Grant Peak. An air attack and type-2 helicopter were on site as of 3:10 p.m. You can see the trail on the right climbing up the end of the valley between the rocky cliffs. And, as we quickly realized, our crew wasn’t at Ice Lake. View 7 Day Forecast on weather.gov. Best to download the map and follow it at splits. Through a stunning array of alpine wildflowers, the Ice Lakes trail winds through old growth forest, sub alpine meadows, and up to … To get there you must return to Ice Lake and look up the slope above the northeast corner of the lake. The Ice Lakes trailhead is located about six miles west of Silverton. There are also some cool ruins there that are a bit of an eyesore, but its cool. The trail to Ice Lakes basin traverses through pine forest and treks through lush meadows filled with Columbine flowers and stalks of corn lilies. You should see a faint trail angling up the slope near the bottom of an old mine tailing. 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Trail sees every season this point, the highest and southernmost Lake in the San National. Your own risk hike etiquette with Columbine flowers and stalks of corn lilies of! The hills only get steeper as you get closer all around it dirt parking lot for next... Very difficult if you 're coming from a sea-level residence, give time!