Lost Lake
- 8.2 mi
- round trip
- 1,720 ft
- climb
- 10,827 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Lost 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.
Lost Lake is a hard hike in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Eagle Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,720 feet, taking you from a low point of about 9,050 feet to a high of about 10,827 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open year-round. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Plan for a long day on foot, with the climb spread across the full length of the route. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 73°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs stay around 31°F. Antones, a lake fishing spot, is about a mile away, and West Brush Creek Trail and Red Creek are both about 2.8 miles off. For an overnight base, Yeoman Park Campground is about 6.6 miles away.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 31 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters22 mi away
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Lost 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, 27.6 mi away at 9,738 ft. The station sits about 1,100 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. 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
~10 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
~11 min drive
2.86-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain.
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Red Creek
~5 min drive
14.93-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,371 ft gain and 11,188 ft max elevation.
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Yates Gulch
~8 min drive
8.72-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,490 ft elevation gain.
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Antones
~5 min drive
5.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 953 ft gain.
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West Brush Creek Trail
~5 min drive
3.59-mile trail in Colorado with 400 ft of elevation gain.
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Mckenzie Gulch
~5 min drive
5.02-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado on White River National Forest.
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TAYLOR CREEK
~11 min drive
15.8-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 5,165 ft gain/loss.
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Brown's Loop
~11 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 78 ft of elevation gain.
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Muckey Lake
~6 min drive
2.20-mile out-and-back trail to Muckey Lake in Colorado's White River National Forest.
