This is a great trail in summer & winter. Minimum is 7 miles with 1800 ft elevation, slightly longer to explore around any of the lakes more than the shortest trail provides. It's easy to reach in all seasons: due to the train tunnel, the dirt road to the trailhead is kept well maintained and plowed. Definitely way way more crowded on summer weekends than in winter. Several little waterfalls and tons on wildflowers even in late August made it a rewarding trail along the way, not only payoffs at the lakes. The trail from the lower two lakes to the upper lake is much steeper, but worth the added effort. Just note that when you first reach what you think is the upper lake, it's actually the drainage (albeit also lovely, see my attached photo); you need to go just a bit further over the boulders & through some bushes to reach the final upper cirque. read more

Crater Lakes - False upper lake! - Hiking Near Me - Rollinsville, Colorado

James Peak Wilderness area is one of my favs close to Denver. That and Indian peaks wilderness. Crater lakes is a moderate hike to 5 fantastic lakes that you can hike, camp, backpack, fish at. Last time I was there I saw two amazing Moose...just gorgeous. Area gets insane on the weekends with tons of peoples and dogs. Last three times I have been there I have been in thunder and hails storms after 1 pm. So if you are planning to hike getting off the mountain before might be a good idea. You can also take the more strenuous Heart Lake trail which is also fantastic and if you really want to kick your ass go up to Rogers pass for beautiful vistas. Great parking. read more

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There are multiple trails that can be taken if you don't want to hike all the way to crater lake. We hiked about 4 miles due to time constraints. If you want to look up the route Lon All AllTrails it's Heart Lake. Beautiful fall foliage at the end of September. Would love to come back out and go to crater lake. read more

This past Friday, I found myself craving a hike that really challenged me. I yearned for lakes, mountains, streams, and more! So I loaded up and hit the road towards Nederland and gave Crater Lakes a shot. It definitely didn't let me down. Quick Stats: Crater Lakes Trail is a 7.5 mile (if you head up to Upper Crater Lakes) out and back trail near Moffat Tunnel. It boasts a great variety of terrain - including 1975 feet of elevation gain! PRO: The first half of the trail follows South Boulder Creek closely. Making for a wonderfully cool and shaded hike, even on a 90+ degree day like I had. CON: Holy. Mosquitos. Batman! SOLUTION: Don't forget the bug spray, like I did! A little Deet would've gone a long way and saved me the agony of 20+ mosquito bites! #rookiemistake PRO: Tons of open space full of the most beautiful wildflowers can be found throughout the area! CON: These space boast much more sunshine and I am burnt like a lobster on my shoulders. Whoops! SOLUTION: Sunblock. You'd think I'd be more prepared, and usually I am, but after not needing it for many years it takes a brutal sunburn to remind me not to skip such things. #burnttoacrisp PRO: There's a wide variety of terrain on this hike, including meadows of wildflowers, babbling streams, waterfalls, snow in July, lakes, boulder fields, and more! CON: It's a tough hike and aptly rated "hard" on AllTrails. SOLUTION: The toughest journeys lead to the best rewards. Pace yourself! The distance and elevation gain can be brutal. Take it slow, and you will ensure that you have a good experience and get to soak up all the beauty this hike has to offer. #slowandsteady PRO: A variety of smaller trails can be found throughout the area to explore areas around the lower crater lakes, upper crater lake, or various places along the trail. CON: There's a lot of "social trails" in the area. Not only is it bad for the vegetation, but it can lead to confusion for fellow hikers. SOLUTION: Download your trail map before you head out! This will help ensure you don't take a wrong turn. #knowbeforeyougo After all is said, Crater Lakes was definitely the hike I needed. I'm excited to come back and check out more of the gorgeous hikes the James Peak Wilderness has to offer. **Special thanks to Matt C for his epic adventures that inspire me to explore all the places! read more

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This is a 6.5 heavily trafficked trail. It runs parallel to the Moffat Tunnel. Like others mentioned this is a heavily trafficked trail to say the least. I've been here probably 5-6 times. In winter and summer. I prefer winter time when the crowd is so much less. Therefore parking is not not an issue. We tried getting in at 7:30. Sometimes the big lot is full. 6:30 is more like it. This week day ( Wednesday overnight) was my later trip here and I brought with me two newbie backpackers. They were such ideal first-timers. No whining. No heroics. Just eager to be backpacking. We were so happy with the blooming wildflowers. The first meadow was full of them! So this is a great place to enjoy a short trip simply because to me there's an abundance of water. Lakes everywhere you look. If you feel like climbing something there's that the too.? The big parking lot is no match for the crowd that visits this trail and that's the main drawback. Pre-COVID it wasn't like this at all. Although this Wednesday it was sweet and almost weird. Way less people esp backpackers! read more

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Excellent hiking and gorgeous views. Loved the lakes too. Just beautiful. Definitely worth the visit. read more

Crater Lakes - Lake on the hiking trail. - Hiking Near Me - Rollinsville, Colorado

Beautiful area with endless options. Amazing trails, remote landscapes, & snowy peaks. We snowshoed 4.5 miles up to the crater lakes area. Gorgeous views. Would be a great place to do some camping in warmer months. read more

Crater Lakes - Hiking Near Me - Rollinsville, Colorado

I'm always looking for beautiful hikes in Colorado and this was super pleasant. When arriving to the Moffat Tunnel rail road, parking is on a large dirt lot but fills up quickly. Bathrooms are available on-site but are basically port-a-potties. Follow the signs to the Crater Lake trail for your fun adventures. Three miles to the lakes will take about 2 hours with occasional breaks. The return trip is about 1 hour. In total a 6 mile trip left the BF and I plenty sore in the legs (we forgot to stretch). The trails are well maintained with signs to direct your way. From an entrance posting it was great to know camping is allowed as well as fishing. No camp fires are allowed but stoves are allowed. The trail is also dog friendly, which is great for when I ever get a dog. The day was sunny, trail well shaded in some parts and sunny in others. The final destination to the lakes is very serene. Pack a hardy lunch and enjoy it at the lakes. read more

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