Colorado · Hiking · Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

Willow Lake

9.7 mi
round trip
2,401 ft
climb
11,627 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Willow Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Rio Grande National Forest. It doesn't name Willow Lake, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Rio Grande National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Willow Lake is a 9.7-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, within the Saguache Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is rated expert, with a one-way elevation gain of 2,401 feet from a low point of 8,928 feet to a high of 11,627 feet. The parking area is named Willow Lake, and the route is open from about May 16 to November 15. The trail is a natural-surface route through designated wilderness, and the climb is steep. The high point of 11,627 feet makes this a high-elevation outing, so plan for the cold and wind that come with it. Nearby, the Copper Gulch trail and the South Crestone mountain biking area are both about 0.7 miles away. Mount Adams is about a mile off, and North Crestone Creek Campground is about 3 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.