Sunnyside Lakes
- 11.3 mi
- round trip
- 872 ft
- climb
- 11,019 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Sunnyside 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.
Sunnyside Lakes is a hard hike in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Eagle Ranger District. The route is an out-and-back of about 11 miles, with a total elevation gain of 872 feet, starting at a low point of about 10,000 feet and reaching a high of about 11,000 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses allowed but bikes not. The trip begins at the Stump Park Trailhead, and the trail stays open year-round. The surrounding area is a cluster of lakes and trails, so it's easy to pair this hike with another outing. Island Lakes, a fishing spot, sits about a mile away, and Bailey Lakes and Hooper Lake Trail are each roughly 1.4 miles off. For an overnight stay, Cold Springs Campground is about 4.9 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Flat Tops Wilderness Guides13 mi away
- Rancho Del Rio25 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Mandall Lakes
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10.55-mile out-and-back trail to Mandall Lakes in Colorado with 1,565 ft gain.
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)North Derby
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4.35-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 757 ft gain and 11,197 ft max elevation.
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Derby Ridge
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7.14-mile out-and-back hike on Derby Ridge in Colorado's White River National Forest.
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Hooper Lake
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11.04-mile out-and-back trail to Hooper Lake in Colorado's White River National Forest
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Smith Lake
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W. Mountain
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6.34-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,233 ft gain.
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Middle Derby
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10.32-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,159 ft gain.
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Hooper Lake Trail
~2 min drive
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Turret
~15 min drive
6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 887 ft elevation gain.
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Roberts
~7 min drive
6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,182 ft elevation gain.
