Colorado · Hiking

Lost Lake

Lost LakePhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
8.5 mi
round trip
227 ft
climb
10,263 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Jul
best months

Is Lost Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for 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 an out-and-back hike of about 8.5 miles on natural-surface trail in the Holy Cross Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The route climbs roughly 227 feet from a low point of about 9,633 feet to a high of about 10,263 feet, and it is rated hard. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the parking area is labeled West Lost Lake, with the trail open year round. The hike is accessible to horses and bikes, which makes it easier to plan a longer trip with pack animals or a bike. For timing, July is the warmest month, with typical highs around 75°F and lows near 38°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run slightly cooler. Nearby, Upper Piney and Mount Powell are both within about a mile and a half. Piney Designated Dispersed Site offers camping about 2 miles away, and Gore Creek Campground is roughly 8 miles off.

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go · Jun–Jul

    Best time to visit Lost Lake

    Best months: June–July. 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

      31° / 1°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      33° / 4°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 10°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 18°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 26°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      69° / 33°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 37°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 21°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 11°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 3°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Dillon 1 E, CO, 19.3 mi away at 9,065 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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

Upper PineyPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Piney

~2 min drive

5.89-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 500 ft gain.

Mount PowellPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Powell

~2 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Powell (13,586 ft) from Piney River Ranch.

Soda Lakes TrailPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Soda Lakes Trail

~2 min drive

0.93-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's White River National Forest with 315 ft gain.

Upper Piney Lake TrailPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Piney Lake Trail

~4 min drive

4.74-mile trail in Colorado with 1,200 ft gain and 10,800 ft max elevation

Lost Lake to PineyPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lost Lake to Piney

~3 min drive

3.14-mile out-and-back trail from Lost Lake to Piney in Colorado's White River National Forest.

West Partner PeakPhoto: toastal_OLD, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Partner Peak

~9 min drive

Route to the summit of West Partner Peak (13,054 ft) from the trailhead.

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Middle Creek Canyon

~2 min drive

Middle Creek Canyon is a 0.57-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado.

East Meadow CreekPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

East Meadow Creek

~4 min drive

13.94-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,185 ft of elevation gain.

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Middle Creek

~2 min drive

Middle Creek is a 1.64-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 819 feet of elevation gain.

Grand TraversePhoto: toastal_OLD, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Grand Traverse

~11 min drive

Route to the summit of Grand Traverse (13,061 ft) from Gore Valley Trail.