Where is Lost Lake located?

Lost Lake is located in Gunnison County, Colorado.

Is a permit required at Lost Lake?

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

Lost Lake

lake

Gunnison County, Colorado

4.5(88 reviews)

About Lost Lake

Lost Lake sits in a stunning alpine basin in Gunnison County, surrounded by the towering Beckwith Peaks and thick stands of aspen that explode with color each fall. Accessed via roughly 20 miles of gravel road from either Crested Butte or Paonia, this high-country destination draws hikers, campers, and leaf-peepers who accept the remote approach in exchange for dramatic mountain scenery. The lake and its adjacent slough anchor a compact recreation area that includes a first-come, first-served campground, day-use parking, and trailheads for some of the West Elk Mountains' most rewarding hikes.

Hiking is the top activity at Lost Lake. Trails leave directly from the campground and connect to Beckwith Pass and the popular three-lake loop that includes Dollar Lake, which visitors single out as a natural highlight worth the extra distance. The roughly three-mile loop through the lake chain offers varied terrain and views, though some trail junctions are poorly marked, so carry a map or GPS. Fall foliage season, typically mid-to-late September, is the peak draw, and the area gets crowded on weekends. Sunday mornings tend to be quieter on the trails, while the free day-use parking lot fills by midday.

Camping at Lost Lake Campground provides about 14 to 20 sites depending on the configuration. Sites are first come, first served, close together, and right along the road, so privacy is minimal. That said, the campground hosts are helpful and friendly, bathrooms are kept clean, and potable water is available. Holders of a national parks pass receive a 50 percent discount, bringing nightly fees down to around 12 dollars. Book early or arrive by mid-morning to claim a spot, especially during peak foliage weekends.

Kayaking and paddling are possible on the slough near the day-use area, though the lake has been drained in some recent years, significantly reducing water levels and paddling options. Swimming has been reported by visitors, but conditions vary with water levels. Fishing opportunities exist but are secondary to the hiking and scenery draws.

A few important caveats: the 20-mile gravel road is slow and rough regardless of your direction of approach. There is no cell service in the area, so plan your navigation and communication accordingly. Drone noise has been an issue reported by campers, and the overall popularity of the area means solitude is hard to find in summer and fall. For visitors who prefer a social camping atmosphere with world-class scenery as the backdrop, Lost Lake delivers. For those seeking backcountry quiet, the surrounding West Elk Wilderness trails offer better options once you leave the campground behind.

Reviews (7)

Katie Foote

Beautiful campground, there were about 3 campsites open when I arrived around 1 pm on a Friday of a peak foliage weekend. Very clean bathrooms. It is a bit busy, with nearly 20 campsites and people doing day passes to hike, but that is the price you pay for epic scenery. The only thing that was unfortunate is a continuous sound of drones, morning and night. I won't mind if they made those illegal. Besides that, great stay. So nice to have hikes starting from the campsite! I did both and enjoyed Beckwith pass slightly better, both were quiet on a Sunday morning but the free parking looked packed coming down at noon. No cell service so plan accordingly.

Dgv11

Two years in a row they have drained the slough/lake and it unfortunately takes away a lot of the beauty. This place has a nice small campground of about 14 sites, but it’s first come first serve and it’s at the end of about 20 miles of gravel Road to get there. LET ME REPEAT- 20 MILES OF GRAVEL ROAD TO GET THERE WHETHER YOU COME FROM CRESTED BUTTE OR PAONIA STATE PARK! One would think that it would be secluded given how far it is from everything but unfortunately, it is an extremely crowded place for hiking and day use as well as people trying to get into the campground. As a result, it is probably not a place we would ever go back even though it has great potential. If you do go , do not miss dollar Lake as part of the three lake 3 mile hiking tour. Dollar Lake is very natural and very enjoyable. There is no place to take your kayak other than the slough at the Day area and when it’s drained, it’s pretty pitiful. Campground hosts were very helpful and nice, and contrary to one of the earlier reviews, we received a 50% discount for having the national parks pass (the signage expressly says that there is such a discount) and they even gave a refund when we didn’t use all three days, something I did not expect. At 50% off, the campground was only $12 a night and had potable water.

Wayne Harding

Great place but try to book in advance. Very popular. Great hiking

Teublitz Bayern

Really special

Alison Smith

Camp host is great, bathrooms were well maintained, but some trails are poorly marked.

Michal Kucera

I've had this campground bookmarked for 5 years and finally made it out. Arrived late morning on a Sunday in July. The scenery certainly did not disappoint; the lake, the mountains, and aspens were spectacular. But there were A LOT of people in this very small campground. Three spots were open and a fourth was being vacated. I stopped at each spot, got out, looked around, and couldn't wait to get out of there. The spots are very close to each other and very close to the road. There is no privacy anywhere. You'll have people camping 30 ft away on both sides and your tent will be 20-30 ft from the road with people walking and driving by. The handful of spots at the end of the road are a little more spaced apart, but they don't have views of the lake and still don't have any privacy. If you like to meet new people and camp with strangers, this place might be for you. If you go camping to find peace and solitude, stay away from here.

fernando gurrola- rios

Un lugar increíble, para acampar con los amigos la familia. Excelente para caminar. Y nadar