Elk Wallow Campground
Campground
Campground · 4.6 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville
Savage Lakes
- 2.6 mi
- round trip
- 1,179 ft
- climb
- 11,078 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Savage Lakes open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.
FSR 286, Radical Hill, is closed due to washouts and unsafe conditions
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Limited parking at Snowmass Creek Trailhead
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Grizzly Creek Trail Closure
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · Order 2026-02 · USFS · White River National Forest
Ruedi Marina Day Use area Dump Station is CLOSED
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
Asbestos safety closure - Camp Hale
Agency alert covering White River National Forest · USFS · White River National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Savage Lakes is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.6 miles in the Sopris Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 1,180 feet from a low point of roughly 9,874 feet to a high of about 11,078 feet. 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, while winter brings highs in the mid-20s and frequent snow days from December through February. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses. Bikes are not permitted. Carter Lake is about 0.6 miles away, and Missouri Lakes is about 2.3 miles away. For paddling, the North Fork Fryingpan River is about 3.6 miles off, and Elk Wallow Campground is about 4.6 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after La Mina Tacos Y Mariscos
Restaurant
On your way back · 15 mi
If it rainsCraig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)
More in LeadvilleGo with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkNexPM AI · $25 per person · 15 mi away
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters23 mi away
- Carter LakeHiking0.6 mi
- Missouri LakesHiking2.3 mi
- North Fork Fryingpan RiverCanoeing3.6 mi
- Fancy CreekRiver fishing3.8 mi
- Elk Wallow CampgroundCamping4.6 mi
Tiger CliffRock climbingPhoto: foto3116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)5 mi- Main WallRock climbingPhoto: foto3116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)5 mi
- Gold Park CampgroundCamping6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
GLACIER CREEK/SKINNER HUTHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: Altitude10k, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Chapman InterpretiveHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Halo Ridge TrailHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Missouri LakesHiking · ~4 min drive
- Josephine LakeHiking · ~5 min drive
- Sopris LakeHiking · ~4 min drive
- Carter LakeHiking · Next door
- Savage PeakHiking · ~7 min drive
- Fancy Lake Spur #2006.1AHiking · ~6 min drive
- Fall CreekHiking · ~9 min drive
Best time to visit Savage Lakes
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.
Jan
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Feb
29° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Mar
35° / 8°
14 wet · 14 snow
Apr
40° / 15°
13 wet · 13 snow
May
49° / 25°
10 wet · 8 snow
Jun
61° / 34°
8 wet · 2 snow
Jul
67° / 40°
13 wet
Aug
64° / 39°
15 wet
Sep
58° / 32°
11 wet · 2 snow
Oct
47° / 21°
9 wet · 7 snow
Nov
35° / 11°
12 wet · 12 snow
Dec
27° / 3°
15 wet · 15 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 18.4 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
