Intermediate Snowshoe – Blue Lake TH - Blue Lake Trail

Carpool Place & Time: Pringle's parking lot on Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO at 7:00AM for 7:15AM departure (Pringle's Fine Wine & Spirits - Google Maps)

We'll carpool to the Blue Lake Trailhead parking (Blue Lake Trailhead - Google Maps)

Additional carpool meeting places could include locations further south.

This will be an out-n-back snowshoe (or microspike) hike from the Blue Lake trailhead, along the Blue Lake Trail. This trail is also a popular backcountry ski trail in the winter. The trail is constantly climbing as we hike. We'll be able to see Chambers Lake before the trail turns to the west. We'll follow along the curves of “Fall Creek” with our ascent becoming more focused, reaching timberline and Blue Lake. The Forest Service has done an excellent job in clearing the trail of numerous downed trees due to the 2020 Cameron Peak fire. At the lake we'll bask in rocky mountain views, with Cameron Peak to the East. We'll find a sunny spot, away from the few avalanche risk zones surrounding the lake, to stop and have lunch/snack. We'll return to the trailhead using the same route. Our pace will be comfortable for all group members. Overall, this hike is ~10 miles and ~1800 ft elevation gain. (Blue Lake - Rawah Wilderness - CalTopo)

Additional Information: Rawah Wilderness - Wikipedia     Chambers Lake (Colorado) - Wikipedia