Backpacking the Blue Lakes Trail: A Hiker’s Guide
Backpacking the Blue Lakes Trail in Colorado has been on our bucket list for years. This was a trail that we tried to do a couple of years ago when we visited Southwest Colorado during July of 2019. Unfortunately, there was too much snow that year and the trail was not accessible at that time. But over the last couple of years, we kept seeing pictures posted of this incredible trail and knew that we had to make it back to Southwest Colorado one day just for this trail.
And this past Labor Day Weekend, we finally decided to make it happen! We spent about 16 hours in the car one-way to get from home to the trailhead of the Blue Lakes Trail, and it was so worth it.
I am falling more and more in love with this area of Colorado. The San Juan Mountain range is one of the most dramatic in the world. BRB while I go search the internet for jobs in SW Colorado.
Anyways, the Blue Lakes Trail is both a very popular day hike and backpacking route. We chose to backpack the trail and spend a night at the Lower Blue Lake so that we could really enjoy the peace and serenity of the lakes during the early evening and early morning hours when most of the hikers were gone.
Also, if you’re new to the world of backpacking, the Blue Lakes Trail is the perfect trail to get you started. Keep reading to find out why I think this trail is perfect for beginners.
Are you looking for more to do on your trip to Southwest Colorado? You may also like these articles:
Blue Lakes Trail Information
- Trail Length: 8.2 miles round-trip
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead Location: Uncompahgre Wilderness Area 38°02’09.2″N 107°48’23.9″W
- Permits/Fees: None required
The Blue Lakes Trail consists of three stunning alpine lakes that are all within a mile of each other. It’s about 3.3 miles to the Lower Blue Lake and 4.1 miles to the Upper Blue Lake from the trailhead.
How to Get to the Blue Lakes Trail
The Blue Lakes Trail is located in Southwest Colorado in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Area . The trail head is about 15 miles from Ridgway, Colorado. To get to the trailhead from Ridgeway, go 4.8 miles west on Highway 62. Turn left (South) on CR-7. From here, you can follow the signs to the National Forest and Wilderness Area.
It’s important to note that CR-7 is an 8-mile dirt/gravel road that is pretty rough. The road becomes especially challenging around mile 6-7 and is filled with lots of potholes and large rocks to avoid the rest of the way. Although I would highly recommend a high clearance vehicle, we did see a few sedans that made it to the trailhead. If you’re a confident driver, you’ll be fine on this road.
The trailhead can become very crowded (especially on holiday weekends) so make sure you arrive very early. We actually parked and slept at the trailhead the night before we started backpacking the Blue Lakes Trail. The area around the trailhead is a dispersed camping area and does allow overnight parking and camping. It was very difficult to find a flat spot to park and sleep in the car, however.
Why the Blue Lakes Trail is Perfect for Beginner Backpackers
Our hike on the Blue Lakes Trail was actually only our second backpacking hike ever. You can read about our first backpacking trip on the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Tetons National Park, here. So we are still very much newbies in the world of backpacking hikes.
However, I must say that the Blue Lakes Trail is a much better option for first-timers. Let me tell you why.
First, it’s only a 3.5 mile hike to the first campground. Even if you’re a pretty seasoned day-hiker, hiking with a large overnight pack is a whole new level of difficulty. So a relatively short hike to your campsite is definitely a great way to get started backpacking.
Second, this trail is a very heavily trafficked trail and requires minimal to no route finding. So it’s a great option if you’re new to camping in the backcountry. There are plenty of people around in case you run into trouble. And chances of you getting lost are very small.
There are also no permits required for this trail, so that’s one less headache to deal with when planning your hike.
Where to Set Up Camp on the Blue Lakes Trail
There are only a few rules that you must follow when setting up your camp on the Blue Lakes Trail.
(1) You must be at least 100 feet from a water source
(2) No campfires are allowed
Although you can technically set up your campsite just about anywhere along the trail, you’ll find a primitive campsite area near the Lower Blue Lake. The highest concentration of flat campsites can be found in this area. But on busy weekends, it can feel overcrowded with other campers and may not give the peaceful “wilderness” experience you were hoping for.
There are also a few campsites along the trail up to the Middle and Upper Blue Lakes. Some of these spots offer incredible views but do require you to lug your packs up another 800 feet in elevation.
What to Pack for Backpacking the Blue Lakes Trail
Backpacking Essentials
Starting off, you need to bring a backpack that will meet your needs. For an overnight trip, a pack that is 40-45 L will be plenty big enough for all of your gear. I carry the Gregory Amber 44 L Womens Pack and Randy carries an REI Co-op pack similar to the REI Co-op Flash 45L Pack. These packs are both perfect for 1-2 nights on the trail.
At camp we set up our lightweight Marmot Tungsten 2-Person Tent. For a decent night’s sleep, we use the REI Co-op Stratus Insulated Air Sleeping Pad and the Winner Outfitters Mummy Sleeping Bag which is such a good value sleeping bag! You won’t find another sleeping bag this high quality for such an affordable price. I don’t know about you but I won’t sleep at all without a decent pillow. That’s why I bring along my Cocoon Ultralight Air-Core Pillow.
Water, Food & Cooking Supplies
First, let’s talk about water filtration. The Blue Lakes Trail has ample water sources, meaning if you bring your own filtration system, you won’t need to carry much water for very long. And that’s a huge plus because water is probably the heaviest thing in your pack. We purchased these Sawyer MINI Water Filtration Systems before our last backpacking trip and did not end up using them because our friends brought their super fancy gravity water filter that was much more efficient for when water sources were more spread out. However, if there’s a lot of water accessible on the trail, these lightweight and easy Sawyer Water Filtration Systems are absolutely perfect! They screw perfect onto most plastic bottles, we used Smartwater Bottles because they are bigger and hold more water.
When backpacking, dehydrated meals are a great way to eat a hot meal on the trail. To cook our dehydrated meals, we use this Camping Cookware Kit from Amazon that is an excellent value for what you spend. If you’re new to backpacking, I highly recommend starting with this backpacking stove and upgrading to a Jetboil Flash Cooking System when you can afford it. To eat your food, check out this Camping Spork.
As far as dehydrated meals go, not all are created equal. We’ve trialed a few different brands and the only brand that we have found palatable is Mountain House Adventure Meals. And they’re actually pretty good, I could actually eat these off of the trail as well. Skip the other brands and stick with Mountain House, trust me.
In addition to a couple of dehydrated meals, we also pack a lot of energy-boosting foods to get through the day. Some of our favorite trail snacks are the traditional PB&J, dried fruit, trail mixes, Go Macro Bars, and RX Bars.
As far as food storage goes, the Wilderness Area requires that you put your food in a Bear Canister or Bear Sack and place it 100 feet from your tent to keep wildlife away from your camp.
What to Wear on the Trail
The Rocky Mountains have some of the most gorgeous trails but they’re also super rocky. And cold!
When hiking on these rocky trails, it’s super important to wear sturdy hiking shoes or sandals on the trails. I wear brands like Merrell Moab 2 Mid Ventilator, Teva Universal Trail (trail sandal), and Timberland Mt. Maddsen Mid Waterproof. My husband, who is very prone to ankle injuries, wears Salomon X Ultra Low GTX and swears by them.
I love being able to switch between a solid hiking boot and a trail sandal with excellent traction for around camp or a quick hike from camp. I’m very prone to blisters and having different shoes to change into makes a world of difference. Also, a good pair of wool socks will keep your feet warm and dry on the trail. I like brands like Smartwool for wool socks.
Make sure to choose moisture-wicking clothing (aka NOT cotton), to pull the sweat away from your body and stay cool and dry while hiking. These Icebreaker T-Shirts have been a favorite of mine recently, they’re excellent at keeping you dry. And the best part is that they don’t stink even after a long sweaty day on the trail!
Don’t forget to bring a down jacket for the super cold nights in the tent.
Our Experience Backpacking the Blue Lakes Trail
We woke up in our car early on the first morning, finished packing our backpacks, and set out on the trail. Almost the entire climb up to the lakes is heavily forested and shaded. The first 1.5 miles of the trail are very steep but then it levels out a bit while still ascending to the top.
Since we were not acclimated to the elevation or to the weight of our packs, in took us about 3 hours to make it to the first lake, where we were able to find a find a campsite and pitch our tent. After setting up camp, we enjoyed a lunch of trail mix and protein bars along the shores of the beautifully blue Lower Lake. The lowest of the three lakes is definitely the bluest but it’s hard to appreciate just HOW blue it is until you climb up above the lake.
Hike to Middle and Upper Lake
Later that afternoon, we started our hike up to the Middle and Upper Blue Lakes. Upper Blue Lake is about 0.8 miles and 800 feet above the Lower Blue Lake. On this trail, hikers can see incredible views of the lower lake. It’s from here that you can really see the Gatorade blue color of the lake.
Although Middle and Upper Lakes are not near as blue in color as Lower Lake, the mountain views from these lakes are simply incredible. We spent an hour on the shore of Upper Lake enjoying the peace and quiet – this lake is a lot less crowded than the Lower Lake.
Camping at Lower Lake
After heading back down to Lower Lake, we enjoyed dinner and the sunset right by the lake. And we were cozied up in our tent before 7:30 PM because when the sun went down, so did the temps. That night in got SO cold. Keep in mind to bring a lot of layers when camping at 11,000 feet.
It was so hard to climb out of our tent into the cold air the next morning, but the views at the lake in the soft morning light were drawing us out.
We packed up camp, took a few pictures at the lake, and hiked the 3.3 miles back down to the car.
Optional: Hike Up Mount Sneffels
If you choose, you can also hike past the Upper Lake up to the summit of Mount Sneffels. Mount Sneffels is one of Colorado’s most popular 14ers. Although the trail is only another mile past the lake, the elevation gain and trail conditions are very challenging. Expect difficult scree conditions almost the entire way.
We noticed many people were camping at Lower Lake for their first night and then hiking up Mount Sneffels the next morning.
After a second successful Labor Day weekend backpacking trip, we’ve decided that this may be a new tradition. Any suggestions where we should backpack over Labor Day next year?
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