Fall 2020 Update: The trail is currently closed due to a recent fire in the area.
Ice Lake Trail is a stunning hiking trail in the San Juan mountain range near Silverton, Colorado. There are several alpine lakes on this trail, and the total length varies depending on which ones you hike to. We hiked to Ice Lake and then further to Island Lake, and it was around 9 miles (round trip - out and back trail). It took ~6 hours to complete the hike. It was not an easy hike, and it is important to consider the elevation if you are not acclimated or have not attempted a high-elevation hike before.
When to go: I did not want to go if there was a decent chance snow would be covering the colorful lakes, and August / September seemed like the best time to go to avoid this. I originally looked at going in early July, but the lakes would have been snowy still! August is also supposed to be great for wildflower viewing in the area, so we decided on mid-August and the flowers were amazing.
What to wear and bring: LAYERS. At high elevations, you may experience cold and hot temperatures all in the same day. I'd opt for lightweight pants, a breathable tank top or t-shirt, a lightweight athletic jacket, a lightweight puffer, and a backpack that can easily fit water and a few of these layers. Additional items to consider include light gloves, an extra pair of hiking socks, and your hat of choice. Good hiking shoes are definitely recommended, and it is also very important to bring adequate water and food/snacks. I brought a backpack with a 2 liter CamelBak water pouch, which was perfect. Anytime I hike, I also bring simple first-aid items, insect repellent wipes, sunscreen, Advil, and Benadryl.
Getting there: The trailhead for Ice Lake Trail is about a 25 minute drive from Silverton, Colorado. If you are coming from Telluride, the drive is ~2 hours. I recommend staying in Silverton the night before, or camping in the area in order to get an early start to the hike. Which brings me to timing - I prefer to start long hikes around sunrise. Part of this is because the trail is less busy and it is much easier to find parking (many parking lots for hiking trails are small and fill up later in the morning). Also, if I am hiking at high elevation, I like to be off the peaks by mid-day, as weather is more likely to roll in during the afternoon. Lastly, I like to hike when it is cooler, and starting early means I won't be in the hot sun the entire time. Okay, back to the drive to the trailhead - part of the drive is on dirt road, but a high clearance vehicle is not necessary. Once you are parked, find your way to the clearly marked Ice Lake Trail.
The hike:
The first hour of the hike was spent hiking through some forested areas and crossing some streams, which were bridged with logs. We did gain some elevation during this time and had great views looking back over the valley.
From here, the incline continues. The views are incredible, and the wildflowers in August were amazing!
After the incline, we reached a lush, flat area. It was covered in flowers and we passed our first lake on the left. This lake is not colorful, and almost blended into the scenery.
First lake pictured above - if you can even see it!
The final incline comes next. This part of the hike got a bit harder and the sun was hot at this point as well. Don't forget to stop and look back at the view - it is incredible.
The view of these rocky peaks (above) means you are almost there!
Once you complete this section of the hike, you will only need to walk a bit further before you reach Ice Lake. We reached this point in a little under 2.5 hours from the trailhead. Ice Lake is the brightest shade of blue and at the time of day we arrived (before 9am), there was a beautiful mirror image of the peaks behind the lake on the water. When we arrived, there were probably 10-15 people there. Some actually camp at the lake, so you may see some tents as well. Take a break here since there is yet another incline coming if you are continuing on to Island Lake!
Next up: Island Lake!! If you are looking straight at Ice Lake, the trail to Island Lake is going to be on the right, but also slightly behind you. We backtracked a bit until we saw a place where the trail diverged from the main trail (now that you are walking back, the trail will diverge left). You will see it going up and over another ridge - that is where you are headed. There was one small steep and rocky section that made my fear of heights act up a bit. I just took it slow (note: you will have to hike down this same section on the way back down too), and it was fine.
From here, you will hike up to a beautiful lookout point before hiking inwards towards Island Lake.
When I first came over the hill and saw Island Lake, I was surprised by how dark the lake was. Most pictures I had seen made it look very bright green. Once I got closer, I realized the reflection of the mountains was shading the lake, and I was able to see sections of the lake that were almost a "glowy" teal green. And as we were there (we stopped and ate lunch here), it seemed to keep changing colors in the light. It was surreal. If you are there later in the day when the lake has more direct sunlight, it may be a totally different color! But - regardless of color, the lake is absolutely incredible and so very peaceful. Even better, we had it to ourselves for around 15 minutes - perks of starting early! It was my personal favorite of the two lakes. It took about 30 minutes for us to hike from Ice Lake to Island Lake, so it adds an extra hour at least to the hike - more if you stop for a while at Island Lake. Worth every step!!!
When it is time to head back, you will take the same trail back towards Ice Lake - you will even have a great view of Ice Lake from above. At that point, get back on the main trail you started on and take that back to the trailhead.
This is one of the best hikes I have done in my home state of Colorado, and would love to come back someday and do it in September to see some different colors along the way. I would highly recommend it! As with all hikes, please do your part to keep the trail clean - take all your trash with you, and stay on the trails!
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