What activities are available at Emerald Lake?

Emerald Lake offers Hiking, Walking, Bird Watching.

Where is Emerald Lake located?

Emerald Lake is located in Gunnison County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Emerald Lake?

Permit information is not currently available. Check with the managing agency for current requirements.

Emerald Lake

lake

Gunnison County, Colorado

4.8(84 reviews)

About Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is a jaw-dropping alpine gem hidden in the mountains of Gunnison County between Crested Butte and the ghost town of Crystal. Sitting at high elevation and surrounded by dense spruce forest, this turquoise lake rewards adventurous visitors with some of the most photogenic scenery in the Colorado Rockies. If you are willing to tackle a rough 4WD road to reach it, Emerald Lake offers a wilderness experience that feels genuinely remote and untouched.

The drive to Emerald Lake is half the adventure. The road from Crested Butte climbs through dramatic terrain that shifts rapidly from meadow to alpine forest. The final quarter mile narrows significantly, becoming a single-lane track with rough spots and steep drop-offs on one side. A high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended, and 4WD provides an extra margin of safety, especially in wet conditions. Some visitors have navigated the road in stock AWD SUVs, but confident off-road driving skills are essential. The road from Crystal is not passable, so plan your approach from the Crested Butte side only. Be prepared to yield to oncoming traffic on the narrow sections and back up if necessary.

Once you arrive, Emerald Lake delivers on its name. The water glows turquoise against a backdrop of towering conifers and rugged mountain peaks. The setting is quiet and low-traffic compared to more accessible alpine lakes, making it a prime destination for photographers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking solitude. The lake is smaller than some expect, but its vivid color and pristine surroundings more than compensate. During July, the area around Crested Butte explodes with wildflowers, including the rare elephant head flower that thrives only in these alpine conditions. Timing your visit with the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival adds another dimension to the trip.

There are no formal facilities at Emerald Lake — no restrooms, marked trails, or signage beyond the 4WD recommendation at the trailhead. Navigation can be tricky, as at least one unsigned fork in the road has sent visitors down the wrong track toward exposed drop-offs. Pay close attention to route descriptions and GPS before you go.

Emerald Lake is best visited from late June through September, after snowmelt opens the road and before early fall storms return. Winter access is extremely difficult and not advised without serious off-road equipment and winter driving experience. The nearest services are in Crested Butte, roughly 30 minutes south, where you will find fuel, food, and lodging. For a bucket-list Colorado alpine lake that genuinely feels off the beaten path, Emerald Lake is one of the most rewarding drives you can make from Crested Butte.

Reviews (9)

Saniket More

Never seen anything like this - just within few minutes, landscape changed so much. It was snowing very lightly but sun was there so it was pleasant. The moment we started going towards emerald lake, the area was much colder, harder to drive and looked so different. It was little scary to drive there but it was worth it. It looked out of the world - temperatures were around 31/32F but it looked so picturesque. Everything was calm in the surrounding and it was only nature doing its magic - sprinkling snow all over the mountains. Would really love to visit this place in summer next time.

carlos andres castro gonzalez

Increíble

Ali Eftekhari

Make sure to go with 4WD car with high clearance and mane parts of the road gets very narrow but the drive is fun and the lake is pretty nice but smaller than I had anticipated

Justin Liu

Beautiful lake. The last 0.25 mile drive to get here is narrow and rough though. Any stock SUV will have no issues getting up, but for that last bit, all cars will be going super slow, and it’s essentially one lane so cars both ways will need to take turns.

Corinne N

This lake is certainly stunning. As the saying goes, Always respect the mountains. We headed out from Crested Butte with sun poking through the clouds and by the time we were almost there it was hailing making the road very slippery. As people mention here there is no sign and we accidentally went to the right and luckily were in a 4 wheel drive as the road was narrow with serious drop on the side. For those not use to 4x4 driving I would recommend reading the local reviews.

Azzam Aziz

Turquoise lake, lots of trees, quiet, not high traffic. There is a sign stating a need for a 4x4 high clearance vehicle. Not sure why, an AWD SUV can make it up there no problem. We went with a new Rav4 with stock tires and 8.4 inch clearance and made it no problem. If you're a confident driver, know how to give room for other drivers when the road is tight or back up if necessary, know how to go over holes or high patches without getting the car to rub then you'll be fine. For reference, I'm comfortable with off roading and maneuvered the car a bit to get it not to rub. In the pictures you can see where the car rubbed. Nothing beyond what you'd scratch parking near a curb. I also show the road and it's condition. If you're going up in the winter, that would be a difficult drive. I wouldn't attempt it without some good off road tires, not stock tires, with an SUV.

Zelda

Gorgeous place but u need a 4x4 vehicle

Beverlyann Lenahan

This lake was on my wish list for my visit to Crested Butte and our son took us there....it was more than I imagined...so beautiful.

Don Kleppinger

Beautiful spot half way between Crested Butte and Crystal. 4 wheel drive recommended. Road from Crystal is not passable so come from Crested Butte. Pictures taken during the annual wild flower festival in Crested Butte in July. See Famous Elephant head (pink elephant) flower that only grows in these alpine conditions