Fulford Cave Campground
Campground
Campground · 4.9 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville
Eagle Lake
- 5.5 mi
- round trip
- 775 ft
- climb
- 10,120 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Eagle Lake 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.
Eagle Lake is an easy out-and-back hike in the Sopris Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, about 5.5 miles from the Forest Service trailhead. The route runs from a low point of about 9,380 feet to a high of about 10,120 feet, with a total elevation gain of 775 feet. The trail is a natural-surface path, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The surrounding land is managed by the Forest Service, and the climb is modest enough to make the hike a straightforward day in the mountains. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 73°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs sit around 31°F. The Slim Jim hike starts just 0.1 mile away. The Exit Wall and Schoolyard climbing areas and the Lime Creek canoeing spot are each about 1.3 miles off. Elk Wallow Campground lies about 5.6 miles away for an overnight stay.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after La Mina Tacos Y Mariscos
Restaurant
On your way back · 22 mi
If it rainsCraig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 22 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters22 mi away
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Eagle Lake
Best months: June–August. 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
31° / 3°
8 wet
Feb
33° / 3°
8 wet
Mar
39° / 9°
8 wet
Apr
44° / 18°
8 wet
May
55° / 27°
9 wet
Jun
68° / 34°
9 wet
Jul
73° / 39°
12 wet
Aug
70° / 38°
12 wet
Sep
62° / 31°
8 wet
Oct
51° / 23°
6 wet
Nov
39° / 14°
7 wet
Dec
31° / 6°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sugarloaf Rsvr, CO, 18.7 mi away at 9,738 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Mount Thomas
~7 min drive
4.81-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,300 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Melissa Johnson — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Old Fulford Trail No 419
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2.86-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain.
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Ironedge
~6 min drive
6.25-mile loop trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 3,143 ft gain.
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Gold Dust Peak
~8 min drive
Route to the summit of Gold Dust Peak (13,369 ft) from Fulford Cave - Lake Charles Trailhead.
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Slim Jim
Next door
3.70-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 896 ft gain
Photo: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Chapman Interpretive
~13 min drive
1.16-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 156 ft of elevation gain.
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Strawberry Lake Trail
~8 min drive
7.2-mile out-and-back trail with 2,760 ft gain to 11,278 ft elevation in Colorado
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Missouri Lakes
~12 min drive
9.00-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,554 ft elevation gain.
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Lake Charles
~7 min drive
9.33-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,621 ft gain.
HIKE
Fulford Cave
~8 min drive
1.18-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 496 ft gain.
