Lake Fork

Lake Fork is a hard hike in Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest, within the Divide Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 14 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 3,167 feet. It starts at the Lake Fork Trailhead, which is open year-round, and the trail is managed by the Forest Service. The route rises from a low point of about 8,821 feet to a high point of about 11,988 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but bikes are not permitted. The climb is steep, and the high point makes this a serious outing. For those who want to break up the trip, Long Cliff and Little Black Cliff are climbing areas within a mile of the trail. Shaw Lake Loop and Kitty Creek are hikes about a mile and a half away.