Colorado · Hiking

Lost Lake

Lost LakePhoto: threeagoutdoors, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.2 mi
round trip
5 ft
climb
9,936 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Lost Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name Lost Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Lost Lake is an easy, short outing on natural trail in the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in northern Colorado. The route is an out-and-back of about 0.22 miles, with a high point of 9,936 feet and a low point of 9,922 feet, so the elevation gain is only about 5 feet one way. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Spicer, Colorado, put July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Nearby options include Percy Lake, about 2.4 miles away, and Granite Campground and Dumont Campground, both about 3.6 miles off. Mountain View is a hike roughly 4.8 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Lost Lake

    Best months: June–September. 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.

    1. Jan

      28° / 7°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 9°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      40° / 15°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 23°

      9 wet

    5. May

      59° / 30°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 36°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 42°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 40°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 34°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 25°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 16°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 9°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spicer, CO, 11.1 mi away at 8,385 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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

Mountain ViewPhoto: Greg Younger from Parker, Colorado, USA, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mountain View

~8 min drive

12.48-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,062 feet of elevation gain.

CATHY'S CUTOFFPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

CATHY'S CUTOFF

~8 min drive

0.87-mile loop trail in Colorado with 294 ft gain and 378 ft loss.

Pete's Wicked TrailPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pete's Wicked Trail

~9 min drive

5.77-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,237 ft gain.

Fish CreekPhoto: Eric Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fish Creek

~11 min drive

6.70-mile loop trail in Colorado with 2,603 ft elevation gain.

DusterPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Duster

~9 min drive

2.41-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 265 ft gain.

Storm Peak ChallengePhoto: Flyinace2000, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Storm Peak Challenge

~10 min drive

4.40-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,312 ft elevation gain.

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Pioneer

~11 min drive

7.05-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,038 ft gain.

MoonlightPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Moonlight

~10 min drive

1.61-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.

ThunderheadPhoto: oc14me, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Thunderhead

~12 min drive

3.9 mi · Moderate

HIKE

Why Not Road

~12 min drive

6.55-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest with 1,635 ft gain.