Cathedral Lake
The craggy, eroded spires of Cathedral Peak and the sweep of alpine tundra leading up to Electric Pass corral Cathedral Lake. Huddled beneath the arcing mountain, sheltered by its heights, the lake’s sparsely vegetated basin is open to the east, where the distant Collegiate Range forms an imposing horizon. The trail leading up to the tarn is as rugged as its goal, but the reward is respite on the rocky shore of a lake visited most often by marmots, pikas, and soaring hawks. The route begins with a moderately steep, traversing climb up the aspen-covered east-facing wall of the Castle Creek canyon. Curving into the Pine Creek drainage, which it follows most of the way to Cathedral Lake, the trail offers views up the Castle Creek valley that slowly disappear as you ascend.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Cathedral Lake
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Aspen |
| Length | 6.4 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 1,986 ft |
| Skill Level | Easy |
| Duration | Day hike |
| Season | Best spring to fall |
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