Address: 12932 CO-103, Idaho Springs, CO 80452 ( Evergreen) Phone: 303-567-3000 (Idaho Spgs Office) Season: Year-round Fees: None, only campground fee Map: Clear Creek (PDF) - Motor Vehicle Use Map containing forest service roads and where dispersed camping is permitted. You'll reach Lower Chicago Lake in just 3.95 miles. Two hundred feet past mile marker 9, on the right side of Highway 103, is the gated access road. It was a great workout. Will not show on comments list. Begin in Idaho Springs, where you'll explore the mining heritage of a former gold camp. Fort Collins, CO 80526 The trial to Lower and Upper Chicago Lake offers up amazing views of Mount Evans Wilderness. It can be accessed on foot the Chicago Lakes Trail. I can see why this is a popular one. Wyoming Hikes. Idaho Springs, Colorado Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek 15.87 mi / 4859 ft gain Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Lots of snow, we did not have snowshoes, but they would have helped. It started to rain lightly on the hike back to Echo Lake as we were not properly prepared for weather changes. It steepens considerably up the rock face separating the two lakes, a strenuous climb with a commanding view over Chicago Lake #1 and the valley below. If you see mile marker 10, you have gone too far. Beautiful views at the top!! The trail to the second lake, which is above treeline, is difficult to follow at times and is very steep. So beautiful and surprisingly empty for a Saturday. ", "Intended to hike to the summit of Mt. in between the towns of Evergreen and Idaho Springs. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Rocky but well maintained. The permit is non-transferable.The permit holder must accompany his or her party. Map Information Activities Bicycling Camping & Cabins Fishing Hiking Horse Riding & Camping Nature Viewing Great trail! We saw a moose! From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Evans Summit hike from Summit Lake, Protrails has an online map with waypoints here. If you go out to Chicago lake just note that you start high and then go down and then back upetc, and it's out and back so the last leg back can be quite a workout after you've done 10+ miles. Explore this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail near Idaho Springs, Colorado. West Chicago Creek offers good fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout. Processed weed-free feedis required for stock. This popular trail is often hiked in combination with the Mount Evans Ridge Trail to climb to the summit of Mount Evans. The park serves as a trailhead for hiking or snowshoeing into the Mount Evans Wilderness, offers picnic areas, and includes a nearby campground with 17 sites. The trail is usually pretty doable by Independence Day. Early quad maps from the early 1900s show the trail and two cabins in the vicinity of the lower lake. It was a beautiful trail and the inclines made it difficult for me! Pretty icy but did just fine with our yaktracks. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock This was a stunning hike! Applications are available at City Hall or you may print the form below and bring it in with you. From Idaho Springs: Take exit #240 onto Hwy 103. Overall beautiful hike. Please explore responsibly! The weather in the Mount Evans Wilderness can change rapidly; be prepared for high winds, snow, rain, hail, and intense sunlight. The Mt. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Didnt love walking up the dirt road to get to the second lake but the part through the woods was great. Lots of people stopping in to look at the lake. 12 mile to the junction of Hwy 103 and 5, the trail starts behind the Echo Lake Lodge. View a COTREX map here. This was a gorgeous hike! Current conditions, fishing reports, maps, water levels, boating, camping, articles, blogs, and photos. Great hike! Then, some people opt to hike around the lake, which adds to the hike as well. However, most people dont want to stop there, many continue on to the upper lake, which adds and additional .6 mile to the trail. Would have been incredibly difficult without. Especially with the tree colors changing. Beautiful hike. I took my time hiking up to the upper lake, then took even longer getting back since the trail was starting to get crowded. It climbs through a burn area, the result of a fire in the 1970s, then continues to climb to Lower Chicago lake. Chicago Lakes Trail is an 11.3-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail rated as hard. Quite icy in one area near the edge of the mountain. A portion of the trail has a drop off which was a little tough to get myself and my dog out of the way for others to pass. If it did go to Summit Lake, it was poorly defined above the upper lake and hikers generally just made their own way.On 10/9/1978, the Reservoir Fire began from an abandoned campfire near the south end of the reservoir. The Chicago Lakes Trailhead and Trail: Park at the Echo Lake lot, where youll find the sign for Chicago Lakes Trail 52 on the west side of the lake. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Nothing can be found of the other at the south end of the lake, but a photo from the 1880s by William Henry Jackson shows the cabin next to the lake. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. I especially enjoyed the solitude mid-week. Watch for the private property signs once you hit the road to the reservoir. One of my favorites. The date the key is to be returned will be indicated on the request form and on the permit issued. 6. . Leaving the Echo Lake Trailhead, the trail passes south of Echo Lake, then descends to Chicago Creek, where it joins a road up the valley to the Idaho Springs Reservoir. I didnt see any signs for the reservoir, only Chicago lakes, so we didnt fully complete and turned around at the creek passing. By signing up for this hike you agree to relieve the event hosts of any liabilities for any harm that may occur to you during the hike as well as any transportation incidents that may occur traveling to and from the hike Meetup. With the current road closure on Mt Evans, the walk down the road was incredibly peaceful and relaxing. No busses allowed. ) or https:// means you've safely An official website of the Trail is unmarked but lots of hard packed snow. Abundant wildflowers stand out against the burned trees. Beautiful hike and great for dogs. Clear Creek Ranger District 101 Chicago Creek Road P.O. Plus there were lots of aspens changing right before you got to the trailhead. There was enough snow but didnt need. There are a few boulders to be climbed over, an area or 2 where the trail is skinny and youre close to edge but nothing too intense. Mountain views. Got there at 9 on a Saturday morning and wasnt very crowded with plenty of parking. Not a great trail for dogs especially with it being snowy and icy. Perfect trail! Definitely a moderate hike - wouldnt take your 2 year old or young kids in vans??? Narrow in some parts. Share sensitive information only Carpools meet at Wooly Mammoth section GG at 7:15. Lots of people stopping in to look at the lake. The name is uninviting, but Hells Hole is a scenic, shallow basin in the Mount Evans Wilderness near Idaho Springs. Illinois: 1932 N. Burling St., Chicago - US$45 millones. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Hiked 3/11 with microspikes which was plenty. Trip Reports You'll see moose, mountain goats, elk, and big horn sheep. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Not a great trail for dogs especially with it being snowy and icy. Be the first to share your experience. We just walked around the lake trail. ", "Note that just after the idaho reservoir are signs for private property, just keep going and you will see signs for chicago lakes. Upper Chicago Lake is above treeline, and can get very windy. One vehicle per key. The Chicago Lakes Trail begins at Echo Lake (west side), 13.25 miles south of I-70 on HWY 103. West Chicago Creek Campground sits along its namesake creek at the base of Mount Evans and is located off Highway 103 on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in central Colorado. Trail Description: Begin at the Echo Lake Trailhead. SEASONAL ROAD CLOSURE: Roads leading to this trailhead are subject to seasonal closure due to winter weather conditions. And if you are interested in the Mt. A short climb past a second Chicago Lakes Trail sign crests over a deep gorge carved by Chicago Creek with views of Mt Spalding and Mount Evans in the distance. From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. . Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 5 h 16 min to complete. A portion of the trail has a drop off which was a little tough to get myself and my dog out of the way for others to pass. However as far as 14er's go, this is a cake walk. Lower Chicago Lake sits just at treeline. Genesee Pub and BBQ, https://www.geneseepubandbbq.com/ An unofficial-looking sign correctly points up this road on a steady climb to Idaho Springs Reservoir (1.65 miles : 10,617'). Watch for the private property signs once you hit the road to the reservoir. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Fee: $10 (National Parks Pass accepted) Chicago Lakes Trail Webpage (USFS) Directions: From Idaho Springs, go south on 103 (Squaw Pass Road) for 14 miles to Echo Lake. Very low water levels and no snow looks like we are in for a drought this year folks. Youll hike Mount Evans is a simple, yet drop dead gorgeous 14er. New Mexico Hikes. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. A little slippery in some places. Ridge lines connecting Rogers Peak (13,391') and Mount Warren (13,307') form the east valley wall. The trail then climbs upward and passes through an old burn area from the Reservoir Fire of 1978. I did this hike with my wife today and it was awesome. From the parking lot, stay to the right of Echo Lake and you will run into the Chicago Lakes Trailhead. Id recommend contacting the Forest Service to find the answer. Trail Map Facilities include vault toilets and seasonal water. Not that many fall/yellow leaves along the actual trail, but great views of them. Beginning Elevation: 10640High Point: 12870End Elevation: 12870Difficulty: DifficultLength, One Way: 6 milesSeasons: Summer through FallUSGS Quads:Mount Evans, Georgetown, and Idaho SpringsOther Maps: Arapaho National Forest, Trails Illustrated #104Usage Level: HighAccess Trailheads: Echo Lake, Summit LakeConnecting Trails: Resthouse, Mt. Arizona Hiking. Share sensitive information only A $10 charge per day will be deducted from the deposit for each day the key is later, up to $100.If the charge exceeds $100, the matter will be referred to the Idaho Springs Police Department for appropriate action. The trail will turn into Idaho Springs Reservoir Road, then will return to a normal trail. Loved this hike. From here, enjoy the views of the glacier cut valley at the base of Mt Evans (4,348 m). The trails has. Views are amazing! We saw a moose! on official, secure websites. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 1 min to complete. Easy 4.6 (366) Lincoln Park. The Mount Goliath Natural Area protects a rare site of Bristlecone Pines that make excellent photographic subjects.Immediately after parking you're surrounded by a miniature forest full of gnarly twisted shapes. Evans Wilderness never has a shortage of visitors, thanks to its proximity to Denver, it is possible to find a more private hike if you know where to look. two short trails are accessible within Summit Lake Park where you also have access to the lake shore and the Chicago Lakes Overlook Trail via the Summit Lake Loop. Parking at Echo Lake picnic area or near the gate for Mt Evans. The Chicago Lakes hike begins at Echo Lake. Fishing is permitted at Idaho Springs Reservoir, Chicago Lakes and along Chicago Creek with a valid Colorado fishing license. Some beautiful views and so much water. It was flat and well maintained. Trail: Generally well marked and easy to follow. Perfect trail! ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. At the height of its 49-mile course, the highway reaches the summit of 14,130-foot Mount Evans. This is a very popular area for fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. However, in September of 2013, heavy rains caused a serious washout just above Upper Chicago Lake. I think this trail should be "hard" versus "moderate" . It lies in a classic U-shaped glacial valley with steep walls along the sides and at the end. LockA locked padlock Great views of the trees starting to change and pass between the peaks at the beginning of the trail. Great as a day hike, or relaxed overnight trip. 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