Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RD
Campground
Campground · 1.1 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Clifton
Scales Lake
Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 4.5 mi
- round trip
- 204 ft
- climb
- 10,805 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Scales Lake open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Scales Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Gold Mountain Wildfire Roads and Trails Closure Order v 4.0
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Ophir Pass Road Closure
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Potter Basin and Beaver Park Roads Emergency Closures
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
TERMINATION OF ORDER - FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Dallas Area Closure order
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Scales Lake is a moderate, 4.5-mile out-and-back hike on gravel in the Grand Valley Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in western Colorado. The trail rises about 200 feet from a low point near 10,600 feet to a high of about 10,800 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The trail is open year-round, and the Skyway Winter Trailhead serves as the parking. Bikes and horses are both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 68°F with lows near 42°F, and the station sits roughly 950 feet lower, so expect cooler temperatures on the trail. Winter is cold, with January highs around 26°F and lows near 6°F. Will's Hill, a cross-country ski area, and the Skyway Ski Lions Loop, a mountain biking route, both lie about 0.1 mile away. Spruce Grove Campground is about a mile off, and Grand Mesa offers pier fishing about 4 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Slopeside cafe
Restaurant
On your way back · 5 mi
If it rainsJeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in CliftonLocal outfitters
- RV Ranch at Grand Junction21 mi away
- Cedar Creek RV Park and Lodging40 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Will'S HillCross-country skiingPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi- Skyway Ski Lions LoopMountain biking0.1 mi
- Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RDCamping1.1 mi
- Spruce Grove CampgroundCamping1.2 mi
- Grand MesaPier fishing4.1 mi
- Kannah Creek WallRock climbing5.8 mi
- Flowing ParkRock climbing6.4 mi
- Ward CreekCanoeing7.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- LionsHiking · Next doorPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Kannah CrossingHiking · Next doorPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Mesa TopHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
SKYWAY SKI SUMMITHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Moo.The.Cow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
OverlookHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
West BenchHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- GRIFFITH SKI CUTOFFHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Moo.The.Cow, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Grand Mesa National Scenic & Historic BywayHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: iagoarchangel, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Palisade PlungeHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- County Line ConnectorHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Scales Lake
Best months: June–September. 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
26° / 6°
Feb
27° / 4°
Mar
34° / 12°
Apr
40° / 17°
May
49° / 27°
Jun
62° / 37°
Jul
68° / 42°
Aug
64° / 40°
Sep
57° / 34°
Oct
45° / 24°
Nov
34° / 14°
Dec
26° / 5°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 9.7 mi away at 9,852 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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.
