Blue Lakes Trail in Southwest Colorado: Best Hike Near Telluride

Blue Lakes Trail in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness between Telluride and Ridgway. This picturesque series of emerald and turquoise alpine lakes is a moderate hike for all levels and one of the best bang-for-your-buck hikes in my opinion.

Ready to explore Lower Blue Lake, Middle Blue Lake, and Upper Blue Lake?
Here’s everything you need to know before you go!

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HIKE TO: Blue Lakes (Lower Blue Lake, Middle Blue Lake, Upper Blue Lake)
TRAILHEAD: Blue Lakes Pass Trail
MILES: 8.56 miles
TIME: 4 hrs
DATE I WENT: 9/23-24/23
DIFFICULTY: moderate
ELEVATION GAIN: 2,372 ft
ELEVATION: 11,729 ft
HIKE PERMIT: no
PARKING: free
LOCATION: San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Moderate in difficulty, it’s a perfect pick for adventurers of all levels. Whether you’re chasing those picture-perfect moments or in search of climbing a 14er peak nearby like Mt. Sneffels, the Blue Lakes Trail offers an unforgettable journey and deserves a spot on every nature lover’s checklist. Prepare to immerse yourself in the mountain’s embrace and let the wilderness captivate your soul.

You might wonder how is it possible for the lakes to be this vibrantly blue.

The San Juan Mountains, including the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, were shaped significantly by glaciers during the last ice age which played a pivotal role in creating the rugged and dramatic landscape we see today. As glaciers moved through the region, they carved out deep U-shaped valleys, cirques, and basins. The grinding action of ice against rock also produced the fine glacial flour that gives the lakes their captivating blue color.

How long is the hike to Blue Lakes Colorado?

How long does it take to hike to Lower Blue Lake?

This depends on your speed, but at a moderate pace with minimal breaks, it took us 1 hr 36 mins to reach Lower Blue Lake, and then another 45 mins to reach Upper Blue Lake.

We clocked in 4 hours round trip but make sure to give yourself additional time to enjoy the lake and views! This was certainly one of those places we lingered and didn’t want to leave.

We hiked the Blue Lakes Trail as an overnight hike and camped next to Lower Blue Lake just to enjoy a night out in the mountains and because we got a really late start (a little after 5 p.m.) in late September. The sun set behind the mountains around 7 p.m., just as we arrived at the first lake.

I’d like to think we went at a slower pace but I’ve also been told that what I think is a “chill hike” is not always easy for others. However, let the hike statistics speak for itself. 

How many miles is the Blue Lakes Trail in Colorado?

The hike to Lower Blue Lake is 3.39 miles and if you continue your hike up to Upper Blue Lake, it is 4.41 miles total each way. 

The total mileage of the Blue Lakes Trail to just Lower Blue Lake is 6.78 miles round trip and 8.56 miles round trip to all three Blue Lakes.

Blue Lakes Elevation

Trailhead: 9,357 ft
Lower Blue Lake: 10,978 ft
Middle Blue Lake: 11,534 ft 
Upper Blue Lake: 11,729 ft

When is the best time to hike Blue Lakes Trail?

The best time to hike the Blue Lakes Trail is typically during the summer and early fall months. Late June through September offers ideal weather conditions when the trail is usually free of snow, and the alpine wildflowers are in full bloom. However, conditions can vary from year to year, so it’s advisable to check trail conditions and weather forecasts before planning your hike.

Personally, I’ve found the best time to visit the San Juan Mountain range is early September. Mosquitoes are not an issue, some wildflowers are still in bloom, it’s the perfect cooler hiking weather in the day but the nights do get chilly so pack warmly if you are camping, there are fewer chances of afternoon thunderstorms, and there are fewer crowds.

Pro Tip: The cooler weather also makes for a nice detour to Mouses Chocolate and Coffee in Ouray for some delicious hot chocolate! Their Belgian dark hot chocolate is the best I’ve ever had.

Blue Lakes Color

The Blue Lakes get their stunning blue color from glacial flour – these tiny particles are suspended in the water and scatter light in a way that gives the lakes their distinctive blue hue. The intensity of the blue color can vary depending on the concentration of glacial flour and the angle of sunlight. So if it’s raining before or not sunny, the lake likely will not be as bright.

Do I need a permit for Blue Lakes Colorado? 

In 2022, the US Forest Service announced they are planning to implement a permit system according to Ouray News. This is likely due to the popularity of this hike and the traffic it gets but as of Sept 2023, there is no permit system in place yet. There is just a self-register at the trailhead to sign in for your hike. 

Blue Lakes Colorado Camping 

There are plenty of dispersed camping options around Blue Lakes if you want to backpack the Blue Lakes Trail, just make sure you are at least 100 feet from the lakes and trail. If you are camping near Lower Blue Lake, the creek and lake offer convenient water sources for many campsites. I personally prefer overnight camping and waking up to the majestic mountain views and lakes but if you’re new to backpacking and not sure how to get started, check out my Beginner’s Backpacking Gear Guide to get you going. Also, please be sure to practice Leave No Trace; pack it in, pack it out.

If you are car camping along the drive in on East Dallas road, we saw several dispersed campsites closer near the trailhead and these unmarked sites have a max limit of 14 days of camping. Please remember that there are no services as it is dispersed sites.

You can also fish for Cutthroat Trout here.

Where is the Blue Lakes Trail?

There are multiple Blue Lakes in Colorado but the most well-known ones are typically associated with the Blue Lakes Trail in the San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. The San Juan Mountains are one of my favorite mountain ranges in the US and with good reason. This hike is tucked away in a glacial basin in the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness area and features three pristine alpine lakes: Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, which are the primary attractions for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Ridgeway, Telluride, Ouray, and Montrose are all small mountain towns in the vicinity but Ridgway is the closest town to the trailhead. 

Blue Lakes Colorado Direction

From Ridgway, you will drive 4.5 miles on a paved gravel road and then turn left onto the East Dallas CR7, a dirt road. 

East Dallas Road is roughly 9 miles and an uneven dirt road with lots of bumps and dips, but as long as you go slow, you should be fine. The road gets rougher during the second half of the drive.

The road to the Blue Lakes trailhead is accessible by most standard sedans and does not require a high clearance vehicle; however, my friend who’s been numerous times mentioned the road condition is not as smooth as it used to. The weather has likely damaged the road in recent years.

From Denver, the trailhead is roughly 300 miles and 6 – 6:30 hours depending on traffic.
From Los Angeles, the trailhead is roughly 840 miles 13 – 15 hours depending on traffic.

Blue Lakes Parking and Trailhead

There is a large parking area at the trailhead and plenty more spaces to park down along the road. There is also an outhouse (restroom) at the trailhead.

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Blue Lakes Trail Hike Description

Blue Lakes Trailhead to Lower Blue Lake Colorado

The hike from the trailhead to Lower Blue Lake is 3.39 miles with an elevation gain of 1,621 ft. 

From the parking lot, the trail starts off in the Uncompahgre National Forest with a right-fork right at the beginning towards Blue Lakes and a self-register stand. The dirt path goes through a meadow with limited views and at 1.36 miles, you will reach the boundary the enter the Mount Sneffels Wilderness. 

I’d say the first 30 mins of the trail had more elevation gain than the rest of the hike to the lower lake which seemed overall flatter.

You will pass the trail junction towards Blue Lake Pass (which leads to Middle and Upper Blue Lake) at mile 3.18 mi, just before you reach Lower Blue Lake. There are several flat open campsites here but we ended up camping in a tree-coverage area by the lake. It’s just around the corner so either spot sets you up nicely to head up to the upper lakes.

We arrived at the lake just as the sun was setting and the reflection of the mountains on the turquoise lake was one of those *pinch me* moments – it’s breathtaking and so worth the wait! This lake hike has been on my radar for the last five years and I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to finally go.

Lower Blue Lake had the bluest turquoise water and is situated in a bowl arena which protects it from the wind more so we got a beautiful reflection. The nighttime temps hovered around freezing temps and were definitely a bit cold and harder to get up in the morning.

Lower Blue Lake to Middle Blue Lake and Upper Blue Lake

The hike from Lower Blue Lake to Upper Blue Lake is 1 mile with 749 ft of elevation gain. We started hiking from our camp at 9:50 am and the sun had fully come over the mountains to light up the lake. Turquoise lakes always look better from above though so I was determined to hike up for a good view.

From Lower Blue Lake, you will backtrack roughly 300 ft to reach the trail junction to Blue Lake Pass and continue up to the upper lakes. There are large cairns to mark where you will head off this main trail to cross East Fork Dallas Creek and continue on the Blue Lakes Pass Trail to the upper lakes. If you haven’t guessed by now, this trail also leads to Blue Lakes Pass and Mount Sneffels (14,157 ft) above all the lakes but the focus of our trip was just to explore the lakes.

There are a couple of options to cross: a log if you have good balance or some large boulders just next to it.

This next part of the trail might be the steepest section of the whole hike. Remember, you are above 11,000 ft here so take your time going uphill as you might feel the altitude more (everyone reacts to high altitudes differently).

The trail from here onwards to the other lakes is mostly exposed to the sun so also keep this in mind if you hike during the middle of a hot summer day.

The path now continues on a well-maintained trail on a little bit of scree – this part kind of sucks going downhill as it’s a little steep with loose little rocks so be mindful of your footing. Walking sideways downhill helps.

There is a tiny creek that is marked with notable cairns which you will cross and the views of Lower Blue Lake down below will start to blow your mind – how is the lake that vibrant?!! The color reminds me of Cracker Lake in Montana’s Glacier National Park.

Just up ahead is a very nice viewpoint if you’re looking for a lunch break or just want to take in the views and snap some photos. It took us 25 mins to reach this point from the lower lake and since we had the luxury of time, we spent well over an hour just hanging out here, oohing and aahing at the views. I spend a lot of time powering through the mountains for a climb so it was nice to slow it down to simply enjoy the lakes and beauty of the great outdoors.

The trail continues up another 20 minutes or so to Upper Blue Lake. It passes the middle lake along the trail but does not go directly next to it so you will have to make a little detour down to it. The views the entire way are pretty epic – it’s a stunning view of the Lower Blue Lake below and a cirque of mountains looming over the arena. 

The trail from the middle to the upper lake was one of my favorite trail sections – I love it when you can see the alpine lake next to the trail and all of the surrounding peaks. Colorado had its first snowfall of the season the previous week which left a light dusting on the peaks too.

When we went in September, these upper alpine lakes had an emerald color while the lower lake was vibrantly turquoise. My friend who went two months earlier said the lakes above were more blue-ish and the lower lake was not as bright as when we went so the time of year (or maybe it was just the weather) may affect the color of these lakes a bit.

The upper lake also had fewer people but the trail just has less crowds this time of year.

If you’re heading up to Blue Lake Pass or the standard route to Mount Sneffels, continue from here. Otherwise, head back down the same way you came up!

Blue Lake Trail Map / GPX

Click here to download GPS track for Blue Lake Trail Colorado

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Best Places to Stay Near Blue Lakes Colorado

• Closest town is Ridgway: Chipeta Lodge – for those looking for the best rooms at a nearby town, this is within 10 minutes after you get off the dirt road.
• Best Charming Mountain Town Nearby, Ouray: Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Spring – this lodge is perfect for those looking for a hot spring soak as well.
• Best Larger Mountain Town, Telluride: Mountain Lodge Telluride – the first thing you will notice is the windows. This beautifully designed lodge gives you luxury cabin resort vibes and if you’ve never been to Telluride, you need to. The views of the mountains are breathtaking and is a great place for Fall colors.
• Best budget-friendly room in Telluride: Bivvi Hostel – this charming hotel offers accommodations per bed in shared dorm-like rooms. There’s common space, free continental breakfast, and space for luggage storage which makes this a great option for budget travelers passing through.

More San Juan Mountains (Ouray, Silverton, Telluride) Colorado Hikes 

Other Stunning Alpine Lakes Hikes For You 

• Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
• Best alpine lake hikes in Eastern Sierra Mountains, California
• Parker Lake in Eastern Sierra Mountains, California

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