It's not a day hike near Denver, but it's definitely worth the nearly three-hour drive to the Hanging Lake Trailhead just outside of Glenwood Springs.
Hanging Lake
| Trailhead Elevation: | 6135 Feet |
| Total Elevation Gain: | 1065 Feet |
| Avg. Elev Gain / Mile: | 734 Feet |
| Highest Elevation: | 7200 Feet |
| Trail Difficulty Rating: | 5.03 (moderate) |
Getting to Hanging Lake Colorado
Visitors can park at the Hanging Lake Welcome Center at 110 Wulfsohn Road, Glenwood Springs CO 81601 and board the Hanging Lake Shuttle. To arrive by car, if driving eastbound I-70 (toward Denver), you can take the Hanging Lake exit.(KJCT) -- The Hanging Lake Trail outside of Glenwood Springs will be closed from Midnight on June 4 until midnight on June 9, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials said the trail will be closed while crews work to remove hazard trees along the trail.
A lot of people ask if you can swim in Hanging Lake, and for the same reasons swimming is prohibited. In fact, the US Forest service details that there is to be “no bodily contact” with the water.
Private vehicles can drive up to the Bells before 8am and after 5pm. Each vehicle must pay $10 by cash or check only, and there is no guarantee that there is parking once cars reach the Maroon Bells, as the lot often fills up early with overnight hikers. However, overnight parking is extremely limited.
Please stay on trail and do not cut switchbacks. Standing on the log, swimming and fishing in the lake are prohibited. Dogs and/or other pets are NOT allowed on the Hanging Lake trail or at the Hanging Lake Welcome Center.
Hanging Lake is open year-round. Those who visit Hanging Lake in the off-peak season (November 1 – April 30) will still need to obtain a permit through the reservation system for $10.
Under the new plan, from May 1 through Oct. 31, the Hanging Lake parking lot will be closed to personal vehicles. Hanging Lake will continue to remain open year-round, except during occasional closures to do trail maintenance work. During the off-peak season, visitors can bike or drive to the trailhead.
A good hiking pace can be anywhere from 2 MPH to 4 MPH, with many hikers walking at 2-3 MPH. Hiking at 3 MPH is considered a very decent pace, but finding the pace right for you is based on your starting physical fitness, level of hiking experience and ultimately, your unique goals.
Hanging Lake was formed by a geological fault which caused the lake bed to drop away from the valley floor above. Over the years, water flowing over Bridal Veil Falls has deposited dissolved carbonates to build up the fragile lake edge.
Michigan is said to have nearly 200 named waterfalls, all but one of which are located in the Upper Peninsula. However most of those falls are quite small. Many of them are better described as rapids. There are still a good number of interesting falls to visit across the UP.
There is no direct connection from Denver to Hanging Lake. However, you can take the Amtrak Thruway operated by Express Arrow to Western then take the drive to Hanging Lake. Alternatively, you can take the bus to Gunnison then take the drive to Hanging Lake.
The distance between Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs is 144 miles. The road distance is 245.7 miles.
What is the elevation of Hanging Lake Colorado?
9 Winter Adventures in Glenwood Springs
- Ski the Western Slope. Sunlight Mountain Resort.
- Explore Historic Downtown. Downtown Glenwood Springs.
- Snowmobile Your National Forest. Snowmobile Tour.
- Heat up at the Springs. Glenwood Hot Springs Spa.
- Take a Spa Day. Chocolate Massage.
- Hike to Hanging Lake.
- Colorado River Fishing.
- Climb a Frozen Waterfall.
Hanging Lake is open year-round and visitors during the off-peak season (Nov. 1 – April 30) still need a permit, which costs $10. The shuttle does not run during that time, so visitors can bike or drive their personal vehicles to the trailhead.
Starting May 1, a reservation and a $12 fee will be required to visit Hanging Lake, the scenic tourist attraction just east of Glenwood Springs where visitation more than doubled between 2013 and 2018. The days of unplanned, no-cost hiking trips to Hanging Lake are nearly over.
Hanging Lake Trail #1850. A permit is required. The trail to Hanging Lake is a steep and rocky 1.2 mile scenic trail climbs 1,000 feet up from the bottom of Glenwood Canyon up through Deadhorse Creek Canyon to Hanging Lake.
It leaves every 20 minutes on the hour. Private vehicles can drive up to the Bells before 8am and after 5pm. Each vehicle must pay $10 by cash or check only, and there is no guarantee that there is parking once cars reach the Maroon Bells, as the lot often fills up early with overnight hikers.
The road up to the Maroon Bells is closed in the winter. You can hike on this road in the winter but it is a 12 mile round trip to make it to the lake. RFTA buses will shuttle passengers for free from the Buttermilk Ski area to Aspen Highlands to catch the Maroon Bells buses.
The trail to Hanging Lake is a steep and rocky 1.2 mile scenic trail climbs 1,000 feet up from the bottom of Glenwood Canyon up through Deadhorse Creek Canyon to Hanging Lake. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes with good tread. Be aware that there is no mobile phone coverage.
What kind of fish are in Hanging Lake?
- Hanging Lake Trail.
- Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
- Hanging Lake.
- Sunlight Mountain Resort.
- Doc Holliday's Grave.
- Grizzly Creek Trail.
- Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail.
- Linwood Cemetery.
How to Prepare for your First Fourteener
- Step 1: Pack your Gear. While many of Colorado's fourteeners can be done in half a day, you still need to have a backpack full of gear to hike them safely and responsibly.
- Step 2: Plan your route!
- Step 3: Find a buddy.
- Step 4: Acclimate, hydrate, and study up.
- Step 5: Slow and Steady.
Visit or call
Hanging Lake visitor information: (970) 384-6309.
At a Glance.
| Current Conditions: | Hiking to the lake during winter months requires preparation. Review hiking Hanging Lake in the Winter Months for more information. |
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| Open Season: | Year-round - weather dependent. |
| Usage: | Heavy |
