Out of all my Colorado adventures, this is the one I get asked about the most. I’m not surprised either. Looking back at the pictures, I’m still blown away by this beautiful place hidden in the Colorado mountains. 

The lakes are hidden in Indian Peaks Wilderness. We plan on backpacking and camping at the lake next time we hike this trail. It can definitely be done as a day hike but plan an early start with a late finish. The trailhead is about 2.5 hours from downtown Denver. We left around 5 AM and started our hike around 7:45 AM. It’s tough getting up early, but watching the sunrise and having the trailhead (almost) to yourself is a nice perk. 

AllTrails reviews said the hike was closer to 16 miles than the listed 14 miles. (Update: AllTrails adjusted the route to a more accurate distance now)

Just over 16.4 miles, expect a long day. Bring plenty of snacks and a water filter to stay hydrated. The trail follows cascade creek so there are plenty of opportunities to fill up. The hike is relatively easy as the elevation gain of 2,500 feet is spread out over the first 8 miles. However, 16.4 miles can make it feel more challenging. The trail is mostly dirt with a few rocky spots. The entire hike stays below treeline but there are a few pockets where you’ll feel the warmth of the sun. 

At the lake, we enjoyed our PB&J sandwiches (our ride or die) and the views of Lone Eagle Peak. While eating, we heard fellow hikers talking about continuing on to Crater Lake. Here we were enjoying what we thought was the end of our hike only to realize we were sitting at Mirror Lake. Once we were done, we packed up and continued 0.4 miles to Crater Lake. Honestly, the views were just as beautiful at both lakes but Crater Lake had fewer people. 

After dipping our feet in the lake and enjoying the scenery, we started to make the trek back to our car. Around 14 miles, there’s a fork that had us all turned around. Both trails lead back to the trailhead but I’d recommend staying to the right (or straight) since that’s the way most people start their hike. 

Overall, we spent about 8.5 hours hiking with about 45 minutes at both lakes. We saw two baby moose in the morning too!

How to prepare for this hike: 

• SNACKS + WATER: come prepared! It’s long and you need a fueled body to complete this hike
• Bugs: There were a lot! You’re by water almost the entire hike so bring spray
• Start early: 1. The trail was busy on our way back and 2. It’s moose and bear country so you don’t want to be out at dusk when they’re ready to play
• Backpacking: if you plan on camping, you’ll have to register for a permit online two weeks in advance. Or you can stop at the Ace Hardware in Nederland the day of. Option 2 will add some extra travel though (Learn more about the permits needed here.)
• Restrooms: There are restrooms at the trailhead but thats it for the next 16 miles