UPPER GLACIER GORGE (& MILLS, JEWEL, BLACK, blue, Green, Italy, FROZEN LAKES) (WINTER)

MAP

Map of Upper Glacier Gorge showing locations of all of the lakes (Mills, Jewel, Black, Blue, Green, Frozen, Italy) and the approximate routes I have taken on the winter hikes on this page.

I had moved to Boulder a few years before, but until this winter I had not done any winter excursions into the mountains near home. But this winter I had been on a streak. I had hiked or snowshoed up to the top of Twin Sisters, Mount Lady Washington, Flattop Mountain, Deer Mountain, Sky Pond, and Chasm Lake. I was enjoying exploring the mountains in their winter cloaks. Plus the exercise felt a little more substantial than my typical morning run. I couldn't get enough of it!

Up until now, I'd only hiked to Black Lake in the summer, en route to climbing in upper Glacier Gorge (The Spearhead, Chiefs Head, Arrowhead, McHenrys). But Black Lake also makes for a great winter destination. This alpine lake fills a deep cirque basin carved out to the base of McHenrys Peak and Chiefs Head Peak. Along the way you also pass right over the frozen surfaces of Mills Lake and Jewel Lake.

I started early so I could squeeze the adventure into the morning, as I needed to work on homework in the afternoon. Once the sun came out, it was quite pleasant despite the cold temperatures. There was not a cloud in the sky and it was a lot calmer than I had expected it would be. It took me 2 hours and 8 minutes to get to Black Lake, so I continued to hike up above Black Lake into Glacier Basin to get better views of The Spearhead and surrounding mountains. My round trip car-to-car was 5 hours from the Glacier Gorge trailhead up to Glacier Basin above Black Lake. 

Below is a sampling of photos from my day out. Sure beat going on a run!

It was forecasted to be cloudy and snowy, but unusually calm with mild temperatures. I was itching to get out for some fitness, so it sounded like a good forecast to hike up to Glacier Gorge. The previous year I had turned around just above Black Lake, so I now made it my goal to get all of the way to Frozen Lake. About 1.2 miles travel from Black Lake, Frozen Lake is nestled high in Glacier Gorge below The Spearhead

The trail was well-traveled up to Mills Lake, and there was a faint snowshoe track up to Black Lake. Beyond that I kicked my own track, but the snow was in good condition for quick travel. With the good snow condition, lack of wind, and mild temperatures, it was a surprisingly pleasant day out. Like most of my winter outings, I reveled in having the entire upper Glacier Gorge to myself (besides for a couple of parties ice climbing just above Black Lake and a few people on the lower trail, I did not see anybody else).

Some time stats:

• Trailhead to Mills Lake: 0:52

• Trailhead to Black Lake: 2:08

• Black Lake to Frozen Lake: 0:59

• Frozen Lake to Trailhead: 2:18

• Total car-to-car (includes breaks): 5:40

Below is a sampling of photos from my day out in one of my favorite areas in RMNP.

When growing up in British Columbia, the New Years Day family tradition was to go snowshoeing. So for New Years Day 2024, back home in Estes Park after a Christmas holidays trip to Cochise, I snatched the opportunity to go hiking in RMNP. I decided to hike up to Blue Lake in Upper Glacier Gorge. Located 0.6 miles above and west of Black Lake, Blue Lake offers a spectacular view of the steep, glacially carved valley below and a dramatic vista of Arrowhead and McHenrys Peak. I had never visited this lake and wanted to check it out.

It had been a dry year so far and there had not been fresh snow for at least a week, which meant the ideal footwear was spikes instead of snowshoes.

Some time stats:

• Trailhead to Mills Lake: 0:53

• Trailhead to Black Lake: 1:53

• Trailhead to Blue Lake: 2:29

• Blue Lake to Trailhead: 1:55

• Total car-to-car (includes break at Blue Lake): 4:38

Below is a sampling of photos from my New Years Day snow hike.

Saturday had been constant snowfall (about 8 inches of fresh snow in the mountains), but Sunday was forecasted to be a glorious winter day, cold but sunny and calm. It was time to enjoy some of the fresh powder. 

I decided to go up to Upper Glacier Gorge, one of my favorite places to go snowshoeing. Any trip to Upper Glacier Gorge starts from Black Lake, and there are three main lakes above Black Lake: Blue Lake, Green Lake (and nearby "Italy Lake"), and Frozen Lake. I had already been to Blue and Frozen, so the objective of this day was to snowshoe up to Green Lake (and the nearby "Italy Lake"). From Mills Lake onward I broke trail, but the powder was pretty light and fluffy so it was an enjoyable rather than onerous undertaking. I love seeing untracked slopes in front of me.

Indeed, it was a glorious day. Perhaps my favorite winter day in Glacier Gorge to date. I enjoyed a nice 30 minute break above Green Lake soaking in the views and drinking hot chocolate and eating peanut M&Ms. I had the entire Upper Glacier Gorge above Black Lake to myself. I am always baffled that there aren't more people out there, but perhaps "slowshoeing" just hasn't caught on. But if it means I can have a winter mountain wonderland to myself on a glorious winter day, I'll take it!

Some time stats:

• Trailhead to Mills Lake: 0:52

• Trailhead to Black Lake: 1:59

• Trailhead to Green Lake: 3:07

• Green Lake to "Italy Lake": 3:22

• "Italy Lake" to Trailhead: 2:03

• Total car-to-car (includes a 30 minute break just above Green Lake): 5:44

Below is a sampling of photos from my glorious day traipsing through pristine snow in one of the most beautiful locations in RMNP.

A few summer photos of Mills Lake, Jewel Lake, Black Lake, Blue Lake, Frozen Lake, and Green Lake for comparison!

previous and next adventures