Grizzly Lake

Grizzly Lake

After negotiating one of the lumpiest access roads around, the reward is the superlative trek to sky-touching Grizzly Lake. The first and last trail segments are demanding, but the long middle portion is a delightful cruise. Crescent-shaped Grizzly Lake Trail travels up a spectacular valley just west of the Continental Divide. Well over 100 species of eye-catching wildflowers are visible along the subalpine and alpine zones and leave no doubt that this is a “century” trail. Mother Nature went all out with the wildflowers in the scimitar-shaped valley of Grizzly Creek. Once the initial climb through unrelenting evergreen trees is over, the majority of the trail is under open skies. Switchbacking for nearly 500 vertical feet, the trail then bursts into a seemingly endless magic meadow. This valley alone is a worthwhile hike. But the final steep approach is a law of beauty unto itself. The goal is 12,550-foot high Grizzly Lake encircled by the essence of the Rocky Mountains. Wildflower Alert: Colonies of alpine fireweed are but one note of a rhapsody in color along this spectacular “century” trail to a high alpine lake.

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