Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. We did the loop counterclockwise, starting with Island Lake and loved galavanting through the lake basin - lakes, mountains, amazing views! The views of the mountains are gorgeous. Note: South Mineral road (FR585/County Road 7) is not plowed in winter, so if you plan on doing a winter trip, add 4.4 miles each way to your hike, snowshoe or ski. A permit system is now in place which you'll need to obtain from the Columbine Ranger District in order to hike this trail. This juncture is intermittently marked with a cairn and is easy to miss. It is uphill all the way to the lake basin. It leads you through old-growth forest to subalpine meadows, to alpine tundra and views of mountain lakes and rugged 13,000+ peaks. It is definitely worth starting early to avoid the crowd. 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. First of all, thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Featured Routes. Dogs are also able to use this trail. It is not surprising at all that a recent fire has destroyed over 600 acres of this area. It delivered nonstop, stunning scenery perfectly integrated with a healthy amount of rigor. Things to note: heaps of side trails, so easy to get lost. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike … On recommendation, we went up to Island first and then to Ice Lake. Length 8.2 miElevation gain 2798 ftRoute type Out & back It's very challenging but the views are 100% worth the hiking. Lower Ice Lake is slightly below timberline, at the base of a towering ridgeline. Photo courtesy Colorado Department of Transportation. The Ice Lake Basin and aquamarine Ice Lake at 12,300 feet is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. We were amongst the last people down around sunset on Sunday and smelled smoke briefly near the trailhead but didn’t know where it was coming from. last two miles are steep with thin air, hiking polls are helpful as many stated. So sad. I've never experienced the shortness of breath I did on today's hike. And, as we quickly realized, our crew wasn’t at Ice Lake. Phone: 800-COLORADO The Lower Ice Lake Basin. The trail concludes at Ice Lake, which is the bluest lake you will ever see. 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. Get Here. Awesome views and trail. 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. pick up your trash. 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'. Some tricky scrambling on a cliff edge just after Ice Lake - but do it slowly, it will be fine. 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. 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. Do everyone a favor and before you endeavor to hike, learn how to Leave No Trace. The trail to Ice Lakes basin traverses through pine forest and treks through lush meadows filled with Columbine flowers and stalks of corn lilies. 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 Featured Routes. This beautiful vegetation is increasingly prone to trampling in recent years as more and more visitors take to the trails to take in Ice Lake’s majesty. The trail to Ice Lakes basin traverses through pine forest and treks through lush meadows filled with Columbine flowers and stalks of corn lilies. Learn More. Unburied feces everywhere. The trail now climbs steep switchbacks up a headwall to the Lower Ice Lake basin. Activities to enjoy in the area include hiking, trail running, backpacking, mountaineering, photography, fishing, and wildlife, wildflower and scenery viewing. All round 10 out of 10. Very upsetting. This lake with a unique island, is in its own cirque surrounded by U.S. Grant Peak and its ridges. The first half is below timberline and passes through aspen and conifer vegetative zones. 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. It was challenging. We didn’t have any hiking poles but after today we are definitely going to get some. A fire sparked Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, near Ice Lake Basin. Lower Ice Lake is slightly below timberline, at the base of a towering ridgeline. This section is fairly flat for the next two-thirds of a mile. The Ice Lake Basin and aquamarine Ice Lake at 12,300 feet is ringed by 13,000-foot peaks. Like. 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 trail starts at the South Mineral Campground, just a few miles down a good dirt road from U.S. Highway 550. This hike is as gorgeous as everyone says. From Ice Lake the trail turns south and climbs another 330 feet to Fuller Lake, the highest and southernmost lake in the basin. 550 to Mineral Creek Rd.,turn left and follow it to the Mineral Creek Campground, where the Trailhead is located. 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. please don't be that person. i’m an east coaster and i’m glad i adjusted to the altitude beforehand because i think i would have had a very difficult time if i did not. Great (tough) day of hiking but oh, so worth it! This trail is excellent and a beautiful place to hike. I’ll still give it a 5 star and hope someday I can come back for it. We then hiked on to Ice Lake and continued on to the last lake on the trail, which was an additional climb but well worth it. A side trip to Island Lake to the northeast adds about 1.12 miles round trip and 130′ elevation gain. The Ice Lakes trailhead is located about six miles west of Silverton. The trail is a dusty uphill climb for most of the way. Not quite as vibrant. During July and August, you will pass through a stunning array of flowers at each level. Pictured is the south-facing slope the trail climbs. Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202 The trailhead has lots of parking, and this is a very popular trail. Total Length 3¾mi; Elevation Range 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. I had no issues with the drive. Follow the trail from Upper Ice Lakes Basin over a rise and across a plateau. The lake is a deep blue color and has beautiful mountain peaks all around it. Very challenging. The colorful trip to Ice Lake Basin also leads to Colorado's island in the sky. Trail Attributes. It is 3.5 miles to the Ice Lake, and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Hardest part of the trail is the section between Ice Lake and Island Lake. The trail starts below treeline near the South Mineral Campground at an elevation of ~9,800 feet. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. In heading left, we hiked our tired legs straight to Ice Lake, and completely missed Island Lake. An air attack and type-2 helicopter were on site as of 3:10 p.m. The road leading to the trailhead is pretty smooth. 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. Ice Lake Basin Trail Details. Be careful not to slip when coming down. There is a trail that leads around the lake for the 360 deg view. Sign up for our eNews updates and be the first to know... SJMA was created in 1988 to assist the San Juan National Forest in providing education and interpretation of public lands in Southwest Colorado. Rewarding hike, moving counterclockwise on the loop to hit Island Lake prior to Ice Lake. Five years ago, Botsford said, a busy day on the Ice Lakes trail might see 250 hikers. The Ice Lakes Trail offers a lot of variety. The Ice Lakes trailhead is located about six miles west of Silverton. The trail might be difficult, but that doesn’t seem to deter the thousands of hikers this trail sees every season. It is uphill all the way to the lake basin. I think they are all amazing, but the lack of crowds at Fuller lake compared to Ice lake pushed it to the top for me. Ice Lakes. 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 Lake is located in the San Juan National Forest near Silverton, Colorado. The trail to Fuller Lake can be quite wet and muddy, but staying on the trail will help preserve the fragile alpine tundra. We started our hike at 7:30/7:45 on a weekday morning and there were only a few other cars there. Lower your voice so everyone can enjoy the trail and not your conversation about your dog. Trash left by hikers. 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. The Durango Herald reports the fire started about a quarter-mile from the Ice Lake Basin trailhead about 2:30 p.m. Monday. Trail on Ice Lake, Clear Creek, and South Fork Mineral Creek in San Juan National Forest. Weather. probably the toughest but most beautiful and rewarding hike i’ve ever done. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sanjuan/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd719782. Trail Attributes. The trail offers a number of activity options. After gaining 1,600-ft. in 2 miles the trail crests the ridge into the beautiful Lower Ice Lake basin. The trail might be difficult, but that doesn’t seem to deter the thousands of hikers this trail sees every season. Ice Lake Trail (505) Area Status: Open This trail is short and steep. Fewer people hike to Fuller Lake, making this a great place to escape the crowds in the basin. Use the wag bags available at the trail head or buy some prior to visiting and pack your toilet paper and waste out. Wondering how the situation is now. Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. Ice Lake Trail . Please protect our trails though. Go north of Silverton on Hwy. Best to download the map and follow it at splits. 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. The Ice Lakes Basin trailhead begins from the dirt parking lot across the road from South Mineral Campground. It can make anyone feel like a … The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and backpacking and is best used from April until September. Most important learn how to poop and pee in the woods. The trail is one of the most popular hikes in southwester Colorado. Apr 23, 2019 - Ice Lakes trail has two common destinations, lower and upper. It is closed temporarily due to fire-related hazards. 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. Trail Information: Trail descriptions, statistics, and more In the Upper Basin there are 3 large lakes including Ice Lake, Island Lake and Fuller Lake (the largest), as well as numerous smaller lakes. The upper basin is surrounded by awesome peaks. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike to creekfalls and waterfalls too. Ice Lakes Trailhead at South Mineral Campground Camping. You break treeline right around where the loop starts. 13er's surround the lake - Fuller, Vermillion, Golden Horn and Pilot Knob. From late July through August, the wildflowers are spectacular, with sub-alpine species in the Lower Basin and alpine species in the upper basin. This trail was recommended to us and it did not disappoint. 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. I hiked this trail in early October, and I started before sunrise. But it is worth it. Amazing blue/green lakes, late season wildflowers, moderately strenuous hike to creekfalls and waterfalls too. Ice Lake has to be one of the most spectacular destinations for the hiker that wants an experience to remember. Also, be aware that shortly after the campground the road becomes only 4WD accessible. And I feel like a complete champion for having completed it solo! When we got to the loop, we went right (counter clockwise) and had the trail and first lake all to ourselves. the last mile is definitely the toughest and i strongly recommend having appropriate footwear because it can be a bit hard to get a foothold even in boots, especially when going back down - i saw a lot of individuals in casual shoes slipping and sliding their way along the trail and some parts can be dangerously narrow. I also strongly advise trekking poles! The views along the hike are amazing. The Ice Lake Trail was hands-down the best day-hike we took in our two and a half weeks in Colorado. A seasoned explorer in … Ice Lake (microprocessor) Absolutely gorgeous, crystal blue & clear. I went clockwise, although either direction looks good. The jagged 13,000+ peaks surrounding Upper Ice Lake Basin include (from north to south). This is a rocky section with a drop off that could be challenging for some. A seasoned explorer in … Went first to Ice Lakes and then over to Island Lake on the loop trail. First off the area is being evacuated today due to fire, so make other plans! this is kind of an in-between time, not quite green, not quite snow. One of my favorite hikes ever! Want to learn more about our current projects, ways to stay involved and news from the San Juan Mountains Association? 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. 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. Hiking down to the lake there are a couple sketchy places along the ridge but not too bad. Places. 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. pick up your trash. 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