Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Twin Lakes

Twin LakesPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.7 mi
round trip
232 ft
climb
10,019 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Twin Lakes open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Leadville Ranger District. It doesn't name Twin Lakes, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Leadville Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Twin Lakes is an easy, out-and-back hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, on the Leadville Ranger District. The trail is 1.7 miles long, with an elevation gain of 232 feet, and it runs from a low point of 9,781 feet to a high of 10,019 feet. It is a short, low-rise outing rather than a big climb. The route is natural-surface and accessible. Bikes and horses are allowed, and it is open year round. The nearest town is Leadville, and the Forest Service manages the land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 74°F with lows near 43°F, and September still reaches about 65°F. That station sits roughly 780 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. Several other destinations lie close by. The Twin Lakes Area climbing area and White Star campground are each about 1.4 miles away, and the Continental Divide Trail and Colorado Trail (segment 11) is about 1.4 miles off. South Mt. Elbert is about 1.7 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    White Star

    Campground

    Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Punky's

    Fast food

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsLongled, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Temple Israel

    Museum

    In town

    Historic frontier synagogue building

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Longled, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Twin Lakes

    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.

    1. Jan

      34° / 5°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 5°

      5 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 13°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      46° / 21°

      6 wet

    5. May

      58° / 30°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 37°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 43°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 42°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      65° / 35°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 26°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 17°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / 8°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Twin Lakes Rsvr, CO, 2.2 mi away at 9,236 ft. The station sits about 800 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Mount BlaurockPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Blaurock

~3 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Blaurock (13,593 ft) from Willis Gulch Trailhead.

Black CloudPhoto: jefftakespictures, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Black Cloud

~4 min drive

6.78-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,747 ft gain and 13,453 ft max elevation

Black Cloud TrailPhoto: jl_2, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Black Cloud Trail

~6 min drive

1.36-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 521 ft elevation gain.

Mt. Belford - Missouri GulchPhoto: Mark Crockett, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mt. Belford - Missouri Gulch

~13 min drive

3.50-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,562 ft elevation gain.

Rinker PeakPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rinker Peak

~3 min drive

Route to the summit of Rinker Peak (13,730 ft) from Willis Gulch Trailhead.

Colorado TrailPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Colorado Trail

~6 min drive

357 mi · Hard

HIKE

Trail 397A

~11 min drive

1.0-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 261 ft gain and 9,494 ft max elevation.

MOUNTAIN BOYPhoto: Toshihiro Matsui, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

MOUNTAIN BOY

~14 min drive

Mountain Boy is a 2.42-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,921 feet of elevation gain.

Mount ElbertPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Elbert

~8 min drive

Standard route to Mount Elbert (14,439 ft) from Mount Elbert Trailhead (North/Northeast Ridge).

Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon CreekPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Colorado Trail Seg. 10 Hagerman Pass Road to Halfmoon Creek

~8 min drive

22 mi · Hard