Gilley Lake
- 1.3 mi
- round trip
- 5 ft
- climb
- 8,757 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Gilley 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.
Gilley Lake is a short, easy hike in the Blanco Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 1.3 miles, with a low point of 8,327 feet and a high of 8,757 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses, and it is open year-round. The trail is easy to fit into a day. The climb is gentle, with only about 5 feet of elevation gain, and the route is short enough to do in a couple of hours. Riders can bring a horse, and the trail is not open to bikes. The Gilley Lake Trail #1833 lies about 0.2 miles away, and the Sterry Lake hike is about 1.6 miles off. North Elk Creek, a canoeing spot, and Burro Mountain are both about 2.3 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Flat Tops Wilderness Guides25 mi away
- Hanging Lake Adventure Co-op29 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Gilley Lake Trail #1833
Next door
1.36-mile out-and-back hike to Gilley Lake in Colorado with 387 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Burro Mountain
~4 min drive
11.01-mile out-and-back trail on the White River National Forest in Colorado
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Maryland Creek
~4 min drive
6.26-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 919 ft elevation gain.
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Papoose Creek
~18 min drive
9.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,208 ft elevation gain.
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DEEP CREEK RIDGE
~12 min drive
3.44-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 549 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Prospect Draw
~8 min drive
8.83-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,689 ft gain.
HIKE
North Elk
~4 min drive
9.43-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado on the White River National Forest.
HIKE
GOOSEBERRY CREEK
~12 min drive
1.42-mile out-and-back trail with 540 ft gain in Colorado.
HIKE
Crooks Park
~9 min drive
15 mi · Hard
HIKE
White Creek
~8 min drive
4.9 mi · Moderate
