Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Pass Lake

Pass LakePhoto: Kimaz2412, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.7 mi
round trip
16 ft
climb
11,856 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Pass 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.

Pass Lake is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Dillon Ranger District of Colorado's White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is 0.73 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 16 feet, so it's a gentle walk that can be done in a single outing. The route is natural-surfaced and open to both horses and bikes, which makes it a flexible option for riders and pack animals. The trail's low point sits at 11,811 feet, and the high point is 11,856 feet, so the climb is minimal. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, and snow is common from November through April. The station sits about 500 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the pass run a little cooler. Loveland Pass and Mount Sniktau are both about 0.6 miles away, and the Loveland Pass Area climbing area is about 2.5 miles off. For an overnight stay, Lowry Campground is roughly 9 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Keystone Area

    Campground

    Campground · 5.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Sixth Alley Bar

    Pub

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 10 mi

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Pass 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, 25.9 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • I-70: Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel closed

      closed Oct 29, 2026 → reopened Oct 29, 2026 · State DOT

    • US 6: Loveland Pass closed

      closed Oct 29, 2026 → reopened Oct 29, 2026 · State DOT

    • I-70: Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel closed

      closed Oct 23, 2026 → reopened Oct 23, 2026 · State DOT

    • I-70: Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel closed

      closed Oct 15, 2026 → reopened Oct 15, 2026 · State DOT

    • I-70: Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel closed

      closed Oct 14, 2026 → reopened Oct 14, 2026 · State DOT

    • I-70: Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel closed

      closed Oct 2, 2026 → reopened Oct 2, 2026 · State DOT

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Loveland PassPhoto: PACarlson, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Loveland Pass

Next door

Loveland Pass is a 2.78-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado reaching 12,915 ft.

Grizzly PeakPhoto: glennharper, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Grizzly Peak

~1 min drive

Route to the summit of Grizzly Peak (13,333 ft) from Loveland Pass Trailhead.

West Ridge TrailPhoto: glennharper, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

West Ridge Trail

~1 min drive

1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 400 ft of elevation gain.

Torreys PeakPhoto: MCA / Mike Allyn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Torreys Peak

~9 min drive

Standard route to Torreys Peak (14,267 ft) from Grays Peak Trailhead (Stevens Gulch).

Climbing TrailPhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Climbing Trail

~3 min drive

1.72-mile climb in Colorado with 1,200 ft gain, steep and loose terrain.

Argentine North Fork TrailPhoto: cpgmattr, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Argentine North Fork Trail

~2 min drive

4.14-mile trail in Colorado with 1,200 ft elevation gain and 11,800 ft max elevation.

Torreys SummitPhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Torreys Summit

~6 min drive

1.7 mi · Easy

HIKE

Sullivan Mountain

~7 min drive

Route to the summit of Sullivan Mountain (13,120 ft) from Chihuahua Lake 2WD Trailhead.

Watrous GulchPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Watrous Gulch

~7 min drive

4.26-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,611 ft elevation gain.

Mount ParnassusPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Parnassus

~6 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Parnassus (13,579 ft) from Herman Gulch Trailhead.