Grizzly Lake

A moderate classic.
Moderate Hiking
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 596 m
- Descent
- 596 m
14 hikes leading to a beautiful lake, high up in the Colorado Rockies—perfect for fishing, paddling, or just sitting on the shore!
Hiking Moderate, Difficult
While climbing Colorado’s highest mountains may well be the primary pastime of avid hikers in the state, sometimes an alternative objective, such as an alpine lake, can be even more gratifying. What’s more relaxing than sitting on the shores of a crystal-clear body of water, alternatively watching the sun reflect off the surface, and staring up at the towering mountain peaks above?
Each of these hikes in Central Colorado culminates at a beautiful alpine lake—and no two lakes are the same! With incredible scenery throughout the entire hike that varies wildly depending on what drainage you’re hiking up, you might just have to check each and every one of these routes off your bucket list.
Once you reach the lake, you can enjoy a number of activities ranging from a picnic lunch on the shore, to fly fishing for trout, or even paddleboarding if you choose to haul your board up the mountains. However, be sure that you check for any regulations for each specific lake: some lakes don’t allow certain activities like fishing or paddling, and for others you’ll need to have the appropriate license to fish.
A moderate classic.
Moderate Hiking
Moderate hike among waterfalls and mining ruins to surpass the treeline and reach alpine lakes in a high valley.
Moderate Hiking
Rugged hike above treeline between two high-elevation lakes near Breckenridge.
Difficult Hiking
Trail that climbs a out of a forested valley to an alpine basin with lakes and waterfalls, dotted with historic mine sites along the way.
Moderate Hiking
Climb to a set of beautiful alpine lakes nestled right below the Continental Divide.
Difficult Hiking
Experience 8 miles of high alpine grandeur in the Holy Cross Wilderness.
Difficult Hiking
Hike to an alpine lake deep in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.
Difficult Hiking
This alpine lake provides options from day hike to shuttle hike to backpacking destination.
Difficult Hiking
A gorgeous hike to a breathtaking alpine lake and pass.
Moderate Hiking
This alpine lake is beautifully backed up by 14,421' Mt. Massive.
Moderate Hiking
A popular 3-mile hike to a beautiful alpine lake.
Moderate Hiking
A rugged backcountry hike to a beautiful alpine lake.
Difficult Hiking
This high alpine lake sits below 14,420' Mt. Harvard.
Difficult Hiking
An epic day hike featuring multiple alpine passes and lakes.
Difficult Hiking
A long day hike to a little-visited alpine lake.
Moderate Hiking
10 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
6 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
6 routes · Hiking
8 routes · Hiking
7 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
11 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
16 routes · Hiking
6 routes · Hiking
7 routes · Hiking
5 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking