Turquoise Lake

Turquoise Lake is a hard hike in Colorado's Holy Cross Wilderness, part of the Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back of about 13.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 3,283 feet, from a low point of 8,342 feet to a high of 11,308 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is on natural surface. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F and no snow days. Winter is harsh, with highs in the mid-20s and about 15 snow days a month from December through February. The Turquoise Lake Trailhead is the parking for the route, and the trail is open year-round. Olsen Lake and Grouse Mountain are both about 1.8 miles away. Beaver Lake, a fishing spot, is about 3.2 miles off, and Halfmoon Campground is about 6.4 miles away.