Sweetwater Lake Recreation Area
Campground
Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
Colorado · Hiking · Near Glenwood Springs
Sweetwater
- 15.4 mi
- round trip
- 1,720 ft
- climb
- 9,779 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Sweetwater 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.
Sweetwater is a hard hike in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Eagle Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 15.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,720 feet, starting at a low point of about 8,000 feet and reaching a high of about 9,800 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The route is natural-surface and allows horses, but not bikes. The trip begins at Hilltop Trailhead, and the surrounding area offers plenty to pair with the climb. Turret Creek and Shingle Peak, both mountain biking trails, sit about 0.6 miles away, and the Old Turret Creek Trail is about 0.7 miles off. For an overnight stay, Sweetwater Lake Recreation Area is about 1.7 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after - If it rains
Thermal springs in Colorado
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Glenwood SpringsLocal outfitters
- Flat Tops Wilderness Guidesunder a mile away
- Glenwood Canyon Resort19 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Broken Rib
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8.89-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 1,921 ft gain.
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Old Turret Creek Trail
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Shingle Peak
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15.92-mile out-and-back trail to Shingle Peak in Colorado, 2,248 ft gain.
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Nellie's
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3.00-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,330 ft elevation gain
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Prospect
~3 min drive
2.40-mile loop trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 538 ft elevation gain.
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Cross Creek
~3 min drive
13.03-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,529 ft gain and 9,359 ft max elevation.
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South W
~6 min drive
5.63-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 541 ft gain.
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Ute-Sweetwater Trail
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3.81-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft of elevation gain.
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Ute - Deep
~3 min drive
16.92-mile out-and-back in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,818 ft gain.
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Turret
~10 min drive
6.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 887 ft elevation gain.
