Whitney Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 5.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 9,158 - 10,926 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 4 hrs.
Trailhead: Whitney Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: Forest hike

Whitney Lake is located in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest between Minturn and Leadville, Colorado. The quiet little mountain lake sits below timberline surrounded by conifer trees on all sides with the rock east facing slopes of Whitney Peak (13,271 ft.) in the background.

Fancy Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 10,016 - 11,596 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 6 hrs.
Trailhead: Fancy Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: alpine lake

The Fancy Lake trail is located in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest between Minturn and Leadville, Colorado. Beginning off of Forest Service Road 727 the trail climbs steeply up the Fancy Creek drainage to Fancy Lake. A loop, that is popular with backpackers, can be formed by continuing past Fancy Lake and over Fancy Pass to Treasure Vault Lake and then over Missouri Pass where a decent is made down the Missouri Lakes drainage and back to the trailhead.

Timberline Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 10,055 - 10,860 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 3 hrs.
Trailhead: Timberline Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic lake

Timberline Lake is located in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area of the San Isabel National Forest near Leadville, Colorado. Both day hikers and backpackers trek up the trail daily during the warmer summer months to enjoy the lakes scenic beauty and the mild temperatures that can be expected in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

Lyle Lake/Mormon Lake

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation: 10,735 - 11,670 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 4 hrs. 30 mins.
Trailhead: Lyle Lake
Fee: none
Attractions: Alpine lakes, backpacking

Lyle Lake and Mormon Lake are located in the Holy Cross Wilderness Area of the White River National Forest. Both lakes are popular destinations for day hikers, backpackers and fishermen. Lyle Lake is an easy to moderate hike of a little less than 1.5 miles. Continuing past Lyle Lake for another 1.5 miles leads to the more secluded Mormon Lake.