Gilpin Lake

Gilpin Lake sits at 10,338 feet in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, roughly 30 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs in Routt County. Reaching the lake requires a 9.1-mile round-trip hike with nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain from the Slavonia Trailhead near Clark, Colorado. The trail crosses Gilpin Creek four times on logs and stones, climbs through dense spruce-fir forest, and opens into a stunning alpine basin ringed by the jagged peaks of the Park Range. Reviewers consistently call the scenery breathtaking, and the moderate-to-difficult trail keeps crowds manageable compared to front-range destinations.

Fishing draws many visitors to Gilpin Lake. The lake holds self-sustaining populations of brook trout, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocks cutthroat trout on a rotating schedule. Fly fishing from the rocky shoreline is the most common approach, though spin-casting works as well. Late June through September offers the best window once snowmelt recedes and the creek crossings become safer. Early-season hikers should expect snow on the upper trail and potentially hazardous water levels at the crossings.

Backpackers frequently pair Gilpin Lake with nearby Gold Creek Lake on the Zirkel Circle loop, a 15-mile route that traverses above timberline along Gilpin Ridge. Note that camping within a quarter mile of both Gilpin and Gold Creek Lakes is prohibited, so plan to set up camp further along the loop. Campfires are restricted in much of the alpine zone; carry a camp stove. The area follows standard wilderness regulations, and no permits are currently required for day hiking or overnight stays.

Wildlife viewing is a bonus along the trail. Moose frequent the willows near the trailhead, and pikas inhabit the talus fields around the lake. Birders may spot white-tailed ptarmigan at higher elevations. The road to Slavonia Trailhead is a maintained gravel Forest Service road, though the final stretch is rougher and better suited to high-clearance vehicles. Cell service is nonexistent once you leave the pavement near Clark. Pack plenty of water, dress in layers for rapidly changing alpine weather, and leave early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms that roll through the mountains most summer days.