Blue Lake, Colorado - United States

The Blue Lake Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Rawah Wilderness. The trail begins at the Blue Lake Trailhead at 9,495 feet, climbs through 11,010 feet at Blue Lake Pass and ends at 10,125 feet at its intersection with the West Branch Trail. Most of the trail travels through dense spruce forest. About .75 miles is across alpine tundra. The first 2.3 miles of the trail is relatively easy to hike. It follows an old road bed to a point where it crosses Fall Creek over a wooden bridge. The Rawah Wilderness boundary is a short distance beyond the bridge.

The wilderness section of the trail below Blue Lake is a series of moderate climbs interspersed with level walks. About a half mile below Blue Lake the trail levels off some through less dense forest and wet meadows. Sites suitable for camping are more plentiful here. The area for about a quarter mile radius around Blue Lake and Hang Lake are closed to camping and fires. Campfires are prohibited on the alpine tundra. The trail breaks out onto the alpine tundra near the southern end of Blue Lake. It continues north to Blue Lake Pass staying about 100 to 150 feet above and to the west of Blue Lake. It is a short, moderate climb to the pass via a few switchbacks.

Hang Lake lies to the west and about 460 feet above Blue Lake. The most direct approach is up along the stream connecting Hang Lake to Blue Lake. This is a steep and difficult climb. The footing is loose and both hands and feet are required at times. A better approach may be to angle up across the tundra from the trail above the south end of Blue Lake toward the snow field above Hang Lake.

From Blue Lake Pass the trail makes a moderate descent down a gulch with a stream to its intersection with the West Branch Trail. There are a few steep spots along this .7 mile stretch of the trail.
(images)(source)