Peterson Lake

Peterson Lake is an easy out-and-back hike in Colorado's Comanche Peak Wilderness, on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The route is short, at 0.85 miles, and rises only 44 feet from its low point of 9,554 feet to a high of 9,609 feet. The trailhead is called Peterson Lake Trailhead, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trail is natural-surfaced and open year round. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. That makes it a practical choice for riders on foot or on horseback. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs of about 68°F in June to around 74°F in July, with July also the wettest month at about 13 wet days. Winter is cold, with typical highs near 31°F in December and January. Big South, a hike about half a mile away, is the closest neighbor. Long Draw offers mountain biking about 1.9 miles off, and Long Draw Campground lies about 2.7 miles away. For paddling, La Poudre Pass Creek is about 3.4 miles away.