Colorado · Hiking

Nolan Lake

5.4 mi
round trip
1,106 ft
climb
11,379 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Nolan 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.

Nolan Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Eagle Ranger District. The trail is about 5.4 miles long, with an elevation gain of 1,106 feet, and it rises from a low point of about 9,917 feet to a high of about 11,379 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead parking is named Nolan Lake. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but bikes are not permitted. The climb is spread across the full length of the hike, and the trail is open year-round. 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. New York Lake is about a mile away, and Fulford Cave and Gold Dust Peak are each about 1.5 miles off. Yeoman Park Campground, roughly 1.9 miles away, offers a place to stay.

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Nolan Lake

    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.

    1. Jan

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 26.4 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.