Abyss Lake Trail

Trip

Ascending Hikes – Abyss Lake TH - Abyss Lake Trail to Abyss Lake

This is an Ascending hike for women to the Abyss Lake near Grant, CO. The trail is a ~16‑mile round‑trip trek through the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness and ascending roughly 3,000 ft into a glacial cirque with alpine lakes surrounded by beautiful peaks!

  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 16.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,000 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 12,000 ft
  • Pace: 1.8mph

This is an Ascending hike for women and non-binary friends who are looking to challenge themselves in good company. We’ll take on a beautiful alpine route through the Mount Blue Sky Wilderness, ending at the stunning Abyss Lake Off of Guanella Pass. Expect breathtaking views, meaningful connections, and space to push yourself at your own pace.

Ascending trips are about community, growth, and getting outside together—so whether you’re building confidence or just craving the mountains, this hike is for you.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to support you!

We’ll meet bright and early on Friday morning at 6:00 AM at the Mountain View Park-n-Ride (off of 285), with a planned departure of 6:15 AM. From there, we’ll carpool along Highway 285 toward Bailey, arriving at the trailhead after about a 45-minute drive.

The hike itself looks to be approximately 16 miles round-trip with just about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Expect a mix of forested paths, open views, and alpine lakes nestled in a stunning glacial cirque. We'll take breaks along the way for water, snacks, and photos—no rush, just steady, supported progress.

This will hopefully be a beautiful hike through the changing aspens! I expect that they won't be at peak but should be nearing. This means that the carpool needs to leave on time to avoid a packed trailhead! 

Route/Place

Abyss Lake Trail


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Please come prepared with the Ten Essentials for safety and comfort in changing mountain conditions:
  1. Navigation – map, compass, or GPS (can be a downloaded trail map on your phone)
  2. Sun protection – sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
  3. Insulation – an extra layer (it can get chilly at higher elevations)
  4. Illumination – headlamp or flashlight
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire – lighter or waterproof matches
  7. Repair kit and tools – small multi-tool or knife
  8. Nutrition – snacks and lunch
  9. Hydration – at least 2 liters of water
  10. Emergency shelter – space blanket or lightweight tarp
Additional suggestions:
  • Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
  • Trekking poles (optional but helpful for elevation)
  • Rain jacket or windbreaker
  • Hat and gloves (yes, even in summer!)
  • Small backpack
Trip Reports