Lost Lake

Lost Lake hides at nearly 11,800 feet in the San Isabel National Forest west of Buena Vista, tucked beneath the Continental Divide near Cottonwood Pass in Chaffee County. With its striking emerald-green water, a rocky island rising from the center, and a short trail that most hikers finish in under two hours round trip, this is one of the most rewarding quick alpine lake hikes in central Colorado.

The Lost Lake Trail (#1532) was rebuilt and officially reopened in August 2023 after the U.S. Forest Service closed the original route due to severe erosion. The new 1.75-mile path starts at an elevation of roughly 11,540 feet on Chaffee County Road 306 and gains about 425 feet over moderate terrain. Some sections cross loose rock from old slide areas, so trekking poles are helpful but not essential. The trail is wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and families with school-age children handle it comfortably.

The lake itself is the payoff. Depending on cloud cover and time of day, the water shifts from deep turquoise to emerald green — the kind of color you expect in the Canadian Rockies, not a 1.75-mile hike from a gravel road. Cutthroat trout in the 5- to 15-inch range inhabit the lake, and fly fishing here is a peaceful experience with little angling pressure most weekdays. A Colorado fishing license is required.

The surrounding basin sits just below treeline, ringed by subalpine spruce and rocky ridges that climb toward the Divide. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast at this elevation, so plan to reach the lake by late morning and start heading back before clouds stack up. Summer wildflowers bloom along the lower trail sections, and the views back toward the Arkansas River Valley are expansive on clear days.

Parking at the trailhead is limited to a small pulloff area along County Road 306 that fills quickly on summer weekends. Visitors who arrive after 10 a.m. on Saturdays may find themselves squeezing into roadside spots. The drive from Buena Vista takes roughly 30 minutes on a mix of paved and well-maintained gravel road. Dogs are allowed on leash, and the trail sees steady but manageable traffic from June through October.