This trail inspired John Denver's words: "Rocky Cathedrals reach to the sky." The switchbacks can be killer and I'm in good shape...I live at 8,500 feet altitude. More

Just outside of Ashcroft this hike is moderate in elevation gain and not too taxing. The crux of the hike is a series of switchbacks that leads you to the final approach to the lake. It is well worth the effort as the lake is nestles on a pristine alpine setting More

We had a wonderful day. You feel like you are on top of the world. But if you have just arrived at the altitude, take a few days to acclimate before you go. Bring all the items needed for a hike in the mountains... i.e. sunscreen, WATER, rain coat, good hiking boots and possibly hiking poles if you need them.... More

An excellent hike up to Cathedral Lake. Roundtrip distance is 6 miles and will take about 4 hours. The elevation gain is decent at 2000 feet from 9,915 feet ending at 11,880 feet. The trail is fairly steep and the hike should be started earlier in the day to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms which frequently appear suddenly in the area.... More

This trail is a real climb! According to my map, it's about 2000 feet in 3 miles. You'll drive to the trail head and where parking is free. But, .75 mile of the road is very rough, so take it slow and bring a spare tire just in case. Low clearance cars are okay, just be careful. The trail itself... More

More challenging than most day hikes in the area, but one of the best lakes to see. Great cliffs and pinnacles surround three sides. Clear blue water and native trout bring bring out the native beity of Colorado. The varied terrain is a treat on this hike. You start through forests, meet up with a mountain stream, cross rock slides... More

My girlfriend (a former all-American athelete) and I asked a few locals about a nice hike for the day, which motivated us to try the Cathedral Lake hike. "Its only three miles up to a pristine crystal blue mountain lake," they told us with a smile. I never did see the wink. The hike started with six switchback trails that... More

This trail is actually rated "difficult" by the Aspen trail guides. We hiked it during the first week of October and there was quite a bit of snow. We saw three deer at the start of the hike which was nice. Make sure you dress for very cold conditions. I didn't dress warmly enough and near the end of the... More