Colorado · Hiking · Holy Cross Wilderness · Near Leadville

Sopris Lake

2.7 mi
round trip
647 ft
climb
10,997 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Sopris 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.

Sopris Lake is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2.7 miles in the Holy Cross Wilderness, part of the Holy Cross Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface route that allows horses but not bikes. The climb starts at about 10,311 feet and reaches a high point of about 10,997 feet. That makes it a short, low-elevation gain for a wilderness outing. 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. Savage Peak and Fancy Creek are both about 1.3 miles away, and Lonesome Lake is about 1.8 miles off. Gold Park Campground, about 3.4 miles away, is the closest place to camp.

Around this trail

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

    Gold Park Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hot Heads Chicken

    Fast food

    On your way back · 13 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Craig Talbert, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Sopris 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, 16.1 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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