Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes is the alpine lake that makes you understand why people hike. Sitting at 10,600 feet in Colorado State Forest State Park in Jackson County, this glacial lake occupies a dramatic cirque beneath the jagged Nokhu Crags, with a tree-covered island rising from its center that has become one of the most photographed natural features in northern Colorado.

The hike to Lake Agnes covers just 1.2 miles from the upper trailhead, but packs in 640 feet of elevation gain that keeps your legs honest. The trail is short enough for families with older children yet steep enough to feel like a genuine mountain experience. Along the way, you pass a historic cabin, rugged volcanic rock formations, and subalpine meadows before the lake reveals itself in a stunning basin of stone and timber. If the upper parking lot is full, you can park at the lower road and add roughly another mile and another hour to the hike, with a steeper grade on that lower section.

The lake was originally named Island Lake for obvious reasons. John Zimmerman, a local settler, renamed it to honor his daughter Agnes, and the name stuck. That central island, covered in a thick stand of evergreen trees, gives the lake a storybook quality that sets it apart from Colorado's many other alpine destinations. The Nokhu Crags tower above the western shore, creating reflections in the water on calm mornings that draw photographers from across the state.

Fishing at Lake Agnes targets native cutthroat trout. The fish respond to flies and small lures, and the lake's relatively compact size means you can reach productive water from multiple spots along the shoreline. The rocky terrain around parts of the lake makes a full circumnavigation tricky in spots, with some boulder fields that demand careful footing.

Wildlife encounters add to the experience. Moose frequent the willows near the trailhead and along the lower trail sections. Visitors report regular sightings of moose cows with calves during summer months, along with marmots, pikas, and various raptors at higher elevations.

Lake Agnes sits within Colorado State Forest State Park, which means there is a day-use vehicle fee at the entrance station. The trailhead has restroom facilities and a designated parking area, though spaces fill early on summer weekends. The park's location along Highway 14 near Cameron Pass makes the lake a natural stopping point for travelers heading to or from Steamboat Springs. The surrounding State Forest offers additional camping, hiking, and fishing opportunities that can easily fill a long weekend.