Trip
Advanced Snowshoe – Blue Lake TH - Blue Lake Trail
This is an ~10 mile snowshoe hike to Blue Lake in the Rawah Wilderness. The trail passes through both heavily impacted areas of burned trees and areas that showcase the common mosaic of burned and unburned forest found after a fire. The fire did not reach the alpine tundra around the lake.
Contacts
- Thu, Jan 15, 2026
- Northern Colorado
- Snowshoeing
- Adults
- Challenging
- Mileage: 10.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,800 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,852 ft
- Pace: 1.3-1.8 MPH
- 8 (8 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
This will be an out-n-back snowshoe (or microspike) hike from the Blue Lake trailhead, along the Blue Lake Trail. This trail is also a popular backcountry ski trail in the winter. The trail is constantly climbing as we hike. We'll be able to see Chambers Lake before the trail turns to the west. We'll follow along the curves of “Fall Creek” with our ascent becoming more focused, reaching timberline and Blue Lake. The Forest Service has done an excellent job in clearing the trail of numerous downed trees due to the 2020 Cameron Peak fire. At the lake we'll bask in rocky mountain views, with Cameron Peak to the East. We'll find a comfortable spot, away from the few avalanche risk zones surrounding the lake, to stop and have lunch/snack. We'll return to the trailhead using the same route. Our pace will be comfortable for all group members. Overall this hike is ~10 miles and ~1800 ft elevation gain. (Blue Lake - Rawah Wilderness - CalTopo)
Carpool Place & Time: Meet at King Soopers, North College, Fort Collins at 7:00 AM, and depart at 7:15 AM (King Soopers Marketplace - Google Maps)
We'll carpool to the Blue Lake Trailhead parking (Blue Lake Trailhead - Google Maps)
Additional carpool location possible further south, if needed.
Required Equipment
Ten essentials and snowshoes are required. Trekking poles are recommended.