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Spectacle Lakes


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Spectacle Lakes

This is a very difficult hike with Class 3 scrambling, 12 miles with 3,200' of gain. The long approach is straightforward but the final 0.6 miles to the lakes are difficult. These two alpine lakes are below Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Our hike will begin climbing steeply along the Lawn Lake Trail.  We will see the gorge cut by the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood as well as the damage done by the 2013 Flood.  We'll cross the Roaring River on a bridge and begin the rather dull ascent through the forest to little Chipmunk Lake and then to Ypsilon Lake.  The maintained trail ends here but we will pick up an obvious social trail that will take us to our destination.  This trail is steep and will have downed trees as obstacles.  About 0.2 miles from the lake, we'll be confronted by the crux of the hike.  An imposing granite slab.  From here to the lakes, much of the hike will be Class 3 and care must be taken both during the ascent and, especially, during the descent.  The first lake we will come to is Lower Spectacle Lake.  Upper Spectacle Lake is just 0.4 miles away, but a lot of time-consuming talus hopping is required to get there.  The upper lake is at the base of mighty Ypsilon Mountain (13,514').  Donner Ridge will be to our left and Blitzen Ridge, with the spires of the Four Aces, to our right.  We will return the way we came.  If rain threatens at all, we will retreat or cancel.

  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Length: 12.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,200 ft
  • 11,340 ft
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