Buckles Lake

Buckles Lake is a 3-mile out-and-back hike on natural trail in the Pagosa Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route sits at an elevation of about 9,500 feet, with a high point of 9,644 feet and a low of 9,456 feet, which makes it a moderate climb of about 66 feet over the course of the trip. The trail is open from June 1 through October 15, and the parking area is labeled Buckles Lake. Bikes and horses are both allowed on this trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run to highs around 77°F in June and 81°F in July, and temperatures at the trail's elevation run warmer than the station's figures because it sits roughly 1,600 feet lower. The station also sees more wet days in late summer, with about 11 in July and 13 in August. V Rock is about a mile away, and V-Mountain, also known as V Rock, is a climbing area about 1.2 miles off. Navajo Peak is a hike about 1.9 miles away, and Blanco River Group Campground offers a place to camp about 4.1 miles from the trail.