Lake Charles
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Lake Charles open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Lake Charles Trail begins near the Fulford Cave Campground, passes Lake Charles and ends at Mystic Island Lake. The trail follows East Brush Creek up to both Lake Charles (4.1 mi) and Mystic Island Lake (4.7) in the Holy Cross Wilderness where regulations apply. It is a generally a gradual climb with two short areas that are quite steep. The trail is rocky with exposed tree roots and a few stream crossings passing through aspen changing to dense pine, spruce and fir. Lake Charles has a spectacular view of Fool’s Peak, 12, 947 ft. and a classic glacial cirque at the end of the valley above Mystic Island Lake.View a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which contains directions, a map, details, and other information.
Local outfitters
- Rancho Del Rio28 mi away
- Cutthroat Anglers33 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Fulford CaveHiking0.1 mi
- Gold Dust PeakHiking0.1 mi
- Brown's LoopHiking1.2 mi
- Yeoman Park CampgroundCamping1.3 mi
- Nolan LakeLake fishing1.5 mi
- East Brush CreekCanoeing1.6 mi
- The SchoolyardRock climbing5.8 mi
- Team WallRock climbing5.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Nolan LakeLake fishing · ~3 min drive
- Beaver LakeRiver fishing · ~18 min drive
- Fryingpan RiverRiver fishing · ~27 min drive
- Roaring Fork RiverRiver fishing · ~38 min drive
- Lake ThomasLake fishing · ~7 min drive
- Beaver Creek Ski ResortRiver fishing · ~18 min drive
- Sneve GulchLake fishing · ~7 min drive
- Fall CreekRiver fishing · ~21 min drive
- Big Spruce LakeLake fishing · ~7 min drive
- Missouri LakesRiver fishing · ~21 min drive
Best time to visit Lake Charles
Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / 4°
Feb
36° / 6°
Mar
43° / 13°
Apr
51° / 21°
May
63° / 28°
Jun
75° / 34°
Jul
81° / 40°
Aug
80° / 39°
Sep
71° / 32°
Oct
61° / 23°
Nov
45° / 13°
Dec
34° / 5°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Meredith, CO, 10.1 mi away at 7,825 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.


