Chihuahua Lake

Chihuahua Lake

The hike to spectacular Chihuahua Lake (an unnamed lake on topo maps) travels first along a four-wheel-drive road through a beautiful and serene high alpine valley. Two 14,000-foot peaks, Torreys and Grays, guard the valley’s eastern flank. At road’s end, a single-track trail continues toward the Continental Divide and wanders above treeline. The lake is tucked in a high bowl at 12, 400 feet above a cliff band, which the trail breaks through via a steep slippery section. Wildflowers and willows line the trail, which makes umpteen creek crossings along its route. The short-lived town of Chihuahua once boasted a population of 200 people. As with other towns in the area, some confusion reigns as to the origin of its name. Some people claim it was named for the Mexican state, but others state it came from an old Indian chief called Shu-wa-wa. In September 1879 five men created the first settlement, which prospered just downstream from the trailhead. The town was incorporated in 1880. Situated in one of the richest mining districts in the state, Chihuahua became a top mining camp.

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