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Echo Lake Park


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Echo Lake Park

Multiple hikes start at from the parking lot at the shore of Echo Lake off Mestaaehehe Pass Rd. outside Idaho Springs. Trails range from the easy Echo Lake Trail to the challenging Mount Evans West Ridge Trail. Beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and multiple lakes can be accessed from this park.

Echo Lake Park is the area immediately around Echo Lake, outside Idaho Springs, but is the starting point for multiple trails on Mt Evans and can connect to trails on Mt. Spaulding. The lake is at 10,500 feet and offers views of surrounding peaks and well as dark skies for stargazing. The park includes vault toilets and a stone picnic pavilion that makes a great place to eat or have some hot chocolate after a winter hike.

Directions to park - Echo Lake Park - Google Maps

Alternate titles - 

Echo Lake to Idaho Springs Reservoir - 4 miles - 761 ft elevation gain

Try this 4.0-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 57 min to complete. 

Chicago and Summit Lakes Trail - 10.6 miles - 3257 ft elevation gain

Chicago Lakes Trail is an excellent adventure featuring alpine lakes, bristlecone pines, and amazing views of the surrounding areas

Echo Lake Trail - 1.5 miles - 78 ft elevation gain

Explore this 1.5-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado.  Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 31 min to complete.

Echo Lake to Summit Lake - 11.1 miles - 3293 ft elevation gain

This route as mapped here brings hikers from Echo Lake to the Mt. Evans summit.

Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek - 15.6 miles - 5337 ft elevation gain

This route takes you to the summit of Mount Evans along its West Ridge. You'll follow the Chicago Lakes Trail, starting at Echo Lake. At the Chicago Lakes Lookout, you'll pick up the Spalding Trail, which goes to the summit of Mount Spalding. You'll then follow the ridge south the summit of Mount Evans, which stands towering over the other nearby peaks at 14,272 feet above sea level.

  • Difficulty: Easy, Moderate, Difficult
  • Land Manager: Denver Mountain Parks
  • Parking Permit Required: Other
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 15
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 15
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  • caltopo
  • COTREX
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Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Echo Lake Park - Echo Lake Trail
  • Echo Lake Park - Echo Lake to Idaho Springs Reservoir Trail
  • Echo Lake Park - Chicago and Summit Lakes Trail
  • Echo Lake Park - Echo Lake to Summit Lake
  • Echo Lake Park - Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek
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