Tag: Crater Lakes

A Beautiful Hike to Crater Lakes

We wanted to escape the heat in the lowlands (5,000 ft.) and get some exercise where it’s cooler (9,000+ ft.). An excellent trailhead for many of our hiking adventures is East Portal just outside of Rollinsville, CO. Here’s the hike map, courtesy of AllTrails.

Topographic map showing a hiking trail marked in green, featuring elevation points, lakes, and terrain contours, with a profile graph indicating elevation changes.

The going was steady. We stopped for a break and a bite to eat at the the lower lake on the north side of the trail. We figured it would do us well for the upcoming steep ascent to the upper lake. We sat on a log to have our snack and absorb the beauty including the scene with the fisherman in the lake.

A man and a woman sitting on a log in a forested area, smiling and holding drinks. The background features trees and a serene landscape.
A tranquil lake surrounded by tall evergreen trees, with a person fishing from a small boat on the water.
A scenic view of a lake surrounded by lush greenery and mountains under a cloudy sky, with a dirt path winding through vibrant wildflowers and evergreen trees.

The journey from there is a steep slog that includes a beautiful waterfall and a stream crossing.

A cascading waterfall flows down rocky terrain covered with lush greenery and pine trees under a clear blue sky.
A hiker stands near a flowing stream surrounded by lush greenery and wildflowers in a forested area.

The top of the steep ascent culminates at a very peaceful mini lake.

A serene mountain lake surrounded by lush greenery and rocky hills under a clear blue sky.

From the mini lake, a cross over some rocks and through a tightly foliaged path got us to upper Crater Lake.

A hiker standing on rocky terrain beside a small pond, surrounded by lush greenery and towering mountains under a clear blue sky.
A serene landscape featuring a calm river surrounded by large rocks and patches of green grass, with pine trees and blue sky in the background.
A man and a woman enjoying a sunny day by a lake, surrounded by greenery and mountains in the background.

A panoramic view of a clear lake nestled among rocky mountains, with trees lining the shore and a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

We sat along the shore of the lake, relaxed, snacked, meditated and chatted a bit and then we worked our way back down the mountain and headed home where we enjoyed a take out Chinese dinner.