Lake Charles
- 9.3 mi
- round trip
- 1,621 ft
- climb
- 11,308 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Caution today
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 5 h ago
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.
Lake Charles is a moderate hike in the Eagle Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 9.3 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,621 feet, and it follows a natural surface. It is an out-and-back route, starting at a low point of about 9,437 feet and reaching a high of about 11,308 feet. Horses are allowed on the trail, but bikes are not. The climb is a steady one, and the route is best suited to a day with a plan to stay overnight or for a longer outing in the district. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, while winter months bring highs in the mid-20s and frequent snow days. Gold Dust and Gold Dust Peak are both within about a mile and a half. Yeoman Park Campground is about 2.5 miles away, and East Brush Creek offers canoeing about 2.8 miles off.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 25 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters25 mi away
- Gold DustHiking0.9 mi
- Gold Dust PeakHiking1.2 mi
- Yeoman Park CampgroundCamping2.5 mi
- East Brush CreekCanoeing2.8 mi
- The Exit WallRock climbing4.9 mi
- The SchoolyardRock climbing5 mi
- Lime CreekCanoeing5.3 mi
- Elk Wallow CampgroundCamping9.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Old Fulford Trail No 419Hiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: Melissa Johnson — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Mount ThomasHiking · ~9 min drive
Halo Ridge TrailHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Gold Dust PeakHiking · ~2 min drive
- Grouse MountainHiking · ~13 min drive
- Nolan LakeHiking · ~4 min drive
- Gold DustHiking · ~2 min drive
- Missouri LakesHiking · ~16 min drive
- Fulford CaveHiking · ~2 min drive
- Brown's LoopHiking · ~4 min drive
Best time to visit Lake Charles
No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Feb
29° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Mar
35° / 8°
14 wet · 14 snow
Apr
40° / 15°
13 wet · 13 snow
May
49° / 25°
10 wet · 8 snow
Jun
61° / 34°
8 wet · 2 snow
Jul
67° / 40°
13 wet
Aug
64° / 39°
15 wet
Sep
58° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Oct
47° / 21°
9 wet · 7 snow
Nov
35° / 11°
12 wet · 12 snow
Dec
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 25.4 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
