Bluebird & OUZEL Lakes (WINTER & Early SPring)

Bluebird Lake is a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by craggy peaks in the Wild Basin of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is located about 6.3 miles from the Wild Basin trailhead, and an additional 1 mile in the winter, making for a 14.6 mile (with 2600 feet of gain) round trip to the lake in the winter (a pretty big day for winter travel, one of the longest distances I've travelled in a single day in the winter). Nate and I had passed by Bluebird Lake at the end of a spectacular 3-day high ridgeline backpack through Wild Basin in August 2022, and had been struck by the pristine beauty of the lake and the surrounding basin. So when we were choosing where to go for a long winter day out in the park, Bluebird Lake came to mind.

I decided on snowshoes and Nate decided on skis. It turned out that snowshoes were the more enjoyable choice for the day, and Nate decided to turn around about halfway to the lake. We had brought separate cars, so I continued onward. About a mile below Bluebird Lake I caught up with Marty from Lyons, who was slowed down by cutting tracks through the deep powder, so we switched off trail-breaking and made it to the lake together. It was quite windy and wintery at the lake, so I snapped a few quick photos, dug out my thermos of hot tea and put it in my side pouch of my pack, and began the long slog out.

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of good views and sun, but I highly enjoyed the exercise surrounded by the snowy winteryness of RMNP. I plan to return again on a bluebird winter day, when this area would be absolutely spectacular.

My round trip time was 7 hours and 22 minutes.

The following page gives photos from my adventure.

Ever since I first snowshoed up to Bluebird Lake in January 2023, I wanted to return on a day with better views. So that was the plan on this early spring Sunday in March, which was forecasted to be mostly sunny all morning. Unfortunately, when I broke above treeline the basin was shrouded in clouds. Disappointed, I debated what to do. It was quite chilly (tempertures were in the teens and wind chill quite a bit lower). Plus, I was breaking my own tracks and the snow was quite deep with an annoying wind-packed crusty layer too weak to hold my weight and just leading to jarring travel. Plus, a flock of red crossbills had arrived at my backyard feeder and I wanted to get some good photos of them before they continued on their migration for the season (although they are a year-round bird in Colorado, I don't believe they stay in Estes Park for long). And I had to finish sealing the HVAC system under my house, a project I had started the previous day. And I had to cut down some dead branches on a tree in my backyard. And I couldn't feel my hands. The excuses were building up.... So, I decided to just go as far as Ouzel Lake, a pretty late nestled in the open trees about 1.3 miles and 1000 feet below Bluebird Lake. I would be back and get to Bluebird Lake on a clear day to see the mountain splendor. 

My round trip time to Ouzel Lake was 5 hours and 50 minutes.

The following page gives photos from my cold and snowy adventure.

Finally, after multiple attempts this winter and early spring, a bluebird day at Bluebird Lake!

My round trip time to Bluebird Lake was 6 hours and 25 minutes.

A summer photo of Bluebird Lake and Ouzel Lake for comparison!

previous and next adventures