Just Keep Swimming, Colorado
- MoveWithMads
- Apr 27, 2022
- 2 min read
Ever since I was a kiddo, I've always been naturally drawn to water. Diving, swimming, cliff jumping.. I'm here for it all and I'm especially looking forward to a hot and sweaty summer hike with a chilly, wet ending.. if you're into taking a dive into a glacial lake at the top. I've put together a list for all of us who are interested in hiking to the best waterfalls, backpacking into the best alpine lakes and even wondering around to find the best hidden swimming holes right here in Colorado, so enjoy! As always, please be sure to practice leave-no-trace while out in the wilderness, as we want to keep our trails, campgrounds and Mother in general looking the best that she can for many years to come. Also be mindful that if you're swimming or planning on swimming at an alpine lake, reservoir, swimming hole or any other place aside from a pool, to be conscious of what oils you have on your body (lotions, sunscreen etc.) and make sure to remove them before entering and contaminating the water. These alpine lakes have super fragile ecosystems that must be respected for wildlife survival. Thanks! (:
Alpine Lake Day Hikes:
*NOTE* If hikes are located in RMNP (Rocky Mountain National Park) dogs are not allowed to go on the hikes unless they are certified service dogs.
Maroon Lake - Aspen
Lower Crystal Lake - Breckenridge
Waterdog Lakes - Salida
Native Lake - Leadville
Bear Lake - Morrison
Ptarmigan Lake - Silverthorne
Hartenstein Lake - Buena Vista
Chasm Lake - Estes Park
Chicago Lakes - Georgetown
King Lake - Nederland
Sky Pond - RMNP
Nymph Lake - RMNP
Dream Lake - RMNP
Emerald Lake - RMNP
Lake Haiyaha - RMNP
Loch Vale - RMNP
Heart Lake - Yampa
Mills Lake - RMNP
Savage Lakes - Meredith
Three Island Lake Trail - Clark
If backpacking the alpine lakes are your thing this summer, let's take the searching for a good place to go out of it. Here's the backpacking bucket list you'll need for getting your fix of camping by a lake in the middle of the wilderness:
Cathedral Lake - Aspen
Kroenke Lake - Buena Vista
Missouri Lakes - Minturn
Spruce Creek Trail - Breckenridge
Grizzly Lake - Monarch
Crater Lakes - Black Hawk
Blue Lakes - Ridgeway
Rogers Pass - Rollinsville
Ice Lake Basin (also to Island Lake) - Silverton
Sandbeach Lake Trail - Allenspark
Upper Diamond Lake - Nederland
Lake Isabelle - Ward
Surprise Trailhead Mirror Lake and Cat Lake - Silverthorne
For my less about the hiking, more about the swimming fam, I have a whole boat load of blogs that I've dug around and found the greatest swimming spots for you (and me) to enjoy this summer. *NOTE* please be aware of water levels and changing weather while you're out on these areas, including summer storms that may pop up out of nowhere and cause a flash flood.
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