Colorado · Hiking · Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Williams Lake

Williams LakePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.5 mi
round trip
416 ft
climb
10,823 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Williams 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.

Williams Lake is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.5 miles in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, part of the Aspen Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado. The trail rises about 416 feet from a low point of 10,404 feet to a high of 10,823 feet, and it is open year-round. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land. Hardscrabble Lake and the Capitol Ditch Trail both lie within a mile. Avalanche Campground is about 5 miles away, and the Carbondale Area climbing area is about 4.5 miles off.

Go with a guide

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Hardscrabble LakePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hardscrabble Lake

~1 min drive

0.17-mile out-and-back trail to Hardscrabble Lake in Colorado.

Capitol Ditch TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Capitol Ditch Trail

~2 min drive

5.43-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's White River National Forest with 298 ft gain.

Nickelson CreekPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Nickelson Creek

~2 min drive

15.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,267 ft elevation gain.

Capitol Peak: Approach to 12,100 ftPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Capitol Peak: Approach to 12,100 ft

~3 min drive

Approach to Capitol Peak (14,137 ft) from Capitol Creek, mapped to about 12,100 ft. The summit is about 2,100 ft higher, off the mapped line.

East Snowmass DitchPhoto: jofwooster, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Snowmass Ditch

~12 min drive

3.40-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado managed by White River National Forest.

Lower Capital TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Capital Trail

~3 min drive

5.28-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,394 ft gain/loss.

Capitol CreekPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Capitol Creek

~8 min drive

17.85-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,260 ft elevation gain.

Willoughby MountainPhoto: jedisct1, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Willoughby Mountain

~14 min drive

Route to the summit of Willoughby Mountain (13,136 ft) from Village Lot 4.

Maroon-Snowmass Trail 1975Photo: jofwooster, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Maroon-Snowmass Trail 1975

~12 min drive

0.07-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 12 ft of elevation gain.

Capitol Peak RoutePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Capitol Peak Route

~7 min drive

1.32-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 956 ft gain.