Hanging Lake, National Natural Landmark Climber's Log

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JenEss

JenEss - Dec 26, 2016 8:52 pm Date Climbed: Dec 15, 2016

Beautiful winter hike  Sucess!

I read up on hiking this trail in the winter and heeded the advice of those who said to take microspikes and hiking poles. I'm glad we did, because while the trail was merely slushy in some places, there were plenty of other sections of the trail that were packed down snow or pure ice, especially the section of the trail by the handrails. We got a pretty late start on an overcast day where the temperature was in the 40s. The trail had us both huffing and puffing due to the steepness of it and the altitude that I'm no longer used to and that my hiking partner had never experienced, but things were going pretty well until we reached that last section by the handrail. The treacherousness of the icy rock combined with the dropoff on the side had me rethinking the wisdom of hiking this trail in the winter, but we managed to scramble up without incident. The lake was beautiful, with part of the waterfall frozen but the lake itself was not. It was beautiful crystal green just like all the pictures and we could see little fish swimming in it. We hiked that additional little trail up to Spouting Rock, but it was almost dark by the time we got up there so we couldn't see much. When we started descending, we decided that there were sections of the trail that were just too steep and icy to try to go down on our feet, so we slid down several sections on our butts. I highly recommend it if you don't mind a cold and maybe slightly wet butt and a couple of bruises from rocks, because it was SO much fun sliding down the trail, we were laughing our heads off and having a great time. I hope to do this hike again in a different season!

dillpickle315 - Jun 1, 2016 7:15 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2016

Hanging lake  Sucess!

Great Hike- beautiful

dino61111

dino61111 - Mar 1, 2015 12:04 pm

Nice hike away from the interstate  Sucess!

What a beautiful stop this was, hiked up there on a lark, well worth the effort. Glenwood Springs isn't bad either.

Liba Kopeckova

Liba Kopeckova - Nov 6, 2013 4:24 am Date Climbed: Nov 5, 2013

nice little hike  Sucess!

nice little hike along I-70. I stopped there later in the afternoon, mid week - still met like 4 groups on the trail.
There is a warning about steep and dangerous trail, which is a joke for anyone hiking mountains. They do not allow dogs, and I was bad and brought Duchess in (I always pick up dog poop), and it was an uncrowded late afternoon, early winter day… Can imagine that the parking lot is filled in the summer. Lots of resting spots along the trail. The lake itself is small, but nice with a nice boardwalk around.

Senad Rizvanovic

Senad Rizvanovic - Feb 24, 2013 1:12 pm

Beautiful!  Sucess!

One of my favorite places in Colorado.

csmcgranahan

csmcgranahan - Feb 9, 2011 12:11 am

Nice dayhike!  Sucess!

Have been there a couple of times - once in winter. Special place.

Tracy

Tracy - Feb 8, 2011 11:49 pm Date Climbed: Jul 12, 1999

Good Family hike  Sucess!

Hiked this with my wife and four kids along with my brother's family. My youngest daughter (a month shy of 4YO at the time) fell in the lake at the end of the boardwalk.

dakotaconcrete

dakotaconcrete - Jan 8, 2011 1:42 pm Date Climbed: Dec 13, 2008

Cool Spot  Sucess!

The ice was nice!

climbingfurry

climbingfurry - Dec 28, 2010 4:14 pm

Local favorite  Sucess!

Been up here many times in all seasons. Awesome place though sometimes a bit crowded

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