Herman Lake
Silver Plume, CO
Herman Lake
The popular hike to Herman Lake starts on an old sawmill road through thick forest. The trail then wanders through fields of colorful wildflowers with spectacular views of the Continental Divide. Most of the trail doubles as a section of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. A last steep pitch takes you to treeline where the trail mellows on the final stretch to Herman Lake, nestled in a bowl at 12,000 feet below Pettingell Peak. Herman Hassell, an early timber operator in the area, supposedly named Herman Gulch after himself. While timber may have been Herman’s ambition, today wildflower aficionados consider this trail a “100 wildflower” or “century” hike because of the possibility of seeing about a hundred different flower species during peak bloom in late July.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Herman Lake
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Silver Plume |
| Length | 6.7 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 1,700 ft |
| Skill Level | More Difficult |
| Duration | 2.7 to 4.5 hours |
| Season | Best from July to early October |
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