RT Hanging Lake

Turquoise travertine lake and cascading waterfall set within a steep canyon, reached by a moderately challenging hike along a rocky mountain trail.

General Information

Length, Elevation Gain & Difficulty:

Length: 2.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: ~1,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous

Hours:

Open daily by advance permit only
Timed entry required; hours vary by season
Access typically early morning to afternoon depending on reservation

Fees:

Permit: ~$12 per person
Shuttle (required in peak seasons): additional fee
Children under 16 require permit but no separate discount

Pet Policy:

Pets are not allowed on the trail

Closest cities with hotels:

Glenwood Springs (7 mi)
Eagle (35 mi)
Aspen (40 mi)

Seasons:

Late spring through fall (summer and early fall most popular; winter access limited)

Location:

Hanging Lake Trailhead, Glenwood Springs, CO

Website:

visitglenwood.com

How to Get There

From Glenwood Springs (7 mi): Take I-70 east to the Hanging Lake exit, park at the designated lot or shuttle area, and begin the hike from the trailhead along Glenwood Canyon.

Overview

Hanging Lake is a small turquoise lake in Glenwood Canyon, about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs, one of the most popular and fragile hikes in Colorado. The shoreline is travertine, formed from limestone-rich water, and the lake formed when about an acre and a half of valley floor dropped along a fault. Behind it, Spouting Rock is a waterfall that flows from a cliff. A paid permit is required to hike (since 2019), you must reserve in advance, and swimming and dogs are prohibited. In winter, traction devices are required, since the trail is icy.

Top Trail

Trail	Length	Elevation Gain	Highlights
Hanging Lake Trail	About 2.4 miles round trip	About 1,200 feet	A steep, rocky trail past waterfalls to the lake and Spouting Rock; allow about two hours

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hanging Lake", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0