Most of the climb up to Green Lake takes place in a dense pine forest on the mountainside directly above the town of Crested Butte. Savor the deep, dark feeling of the forest, as trees this thick and dirt this black is a relative rarity in Colorado. Of course, Crested Butte has more black dirt and moisture than a lot of places in the state… which is probably why you’re here, right?!

The climb slowly twists and turns its way up the mountainside, punctuated by occasional steep pitches. Higher up the trail, the singletrack breaks out into a few alpine meadows filled with beautiful wildflowers—a welcome change from the pine forest. The higher you climb, the more alpine the environment becomes.

Eventually, near the Carbon Trail, the environment turns full-on alpine, with expansive meadows and low trees. After passing the Carbon Trail, the Green Lake trail gets significantly rockier and rougher, with a few stream crossings. This doesn’t last long, because you’re almost to the lake!

The first small body of water that you’ll see is just a small beaver pond. Continue on to reach the actual lake nestled against the bottom of a rocky alpine ridge—a stunning backdrop to this serene pool of water.

Enjoy a lunch on the lakeshore, and return down the same trail.