The first 1.7 miles is a pleasant stroll on a wide, smooth trail that gains little elevation as it follows the lovely, gurgling North Cottonwood Creek. At 1.7 miles, the trail splits at a signed junction where the Kroenke Lake trail heads left, and continuing on the right fork takes one into Horn Fork Basin, Bear Lake, and Mt. Harvard.

The Kroenke Lake Trail becomes a bit more rugged after the junction and crosses the creek several times with varying degrees of ease. Some crossings involve simple rock hopping, but the widest crossing becomes extremely challenging during spring runoff. Until the planned wilderness bridge is completed, use caution!

There are plenty of campsites on the south end of the lake, but it is a popular backpacking destination, so it's best to get there early to find a spot. As a basecamp, Kroenke Lake provides a wide variety of options for day hikes. Many people choose to enjoy the 2.7-mile (5.4 miles roundtrip) hike to Browns Pass, but some attempt to summit 12,730' Birthday Peak, which requires good route-finding skills.

Another way to enjoy Kroenke Lake is via shuttle: leaving one vehicle at the Denny Creek trailhead on CR306. This option is an 11-mile best-of-the-best tour of Sawatch high country that takes hikers past Kroenke Lake, up to Browns Pass, and descends to Denny Creek.

Kroenke Lake is an alpine gem for a “choose-your-own-adventure” trip. Whether you set up a tent and stay awhile, or hike on by en route to other destinations... plan to make Kroenke Lake a highlight of your outing. Be sure to take your pack off, have a snack, and take some time to soak in the peaceful beauty before moving on.