Colorado · Hiking

Heart Lake

Heart LakePhoto: fringedbenefit, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.6 mi
round trip
904 ft
climb
11,721 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 13 h ago

Is Heart Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Heart Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Heart Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest, within the Divide Ranger District. The trail is about 3.6 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 904 feet, taking you from a low point of about 10,819 feet to a high of about 11,721 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is open year-round. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. That makes it a flexible option for a day on foot or on horseback, with the added option of bringing a bike along. The closest neighbors are Lost Trail, a hike about 3 miles away, and Lost Trail Campground, about 3.1 miles off. West Lost Creek and the Wager Gulch Memorial Trail are both within about 6 miles, and Mill Creek Campground is roughly 7 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.