Ice Lake Basin
As the name suggests, Ice Lake Basin lies high above timberline in a corner of the San Juan Mountains known for its long winters and short summers. Ice Lake and its neighboring lakes are frozen for at least eight months of the year, and the valley they occupy is bordered by several snowfields that never completely melt. There are four named lakes within the basin and five or six unnamed ones, all remnants of the glaciers that long ago created the bowl-shaped valley. The basin is a textbook example of an alpine depression that was gouged out of the mountains by a long succession of glaciers that have periodically resided here over the past 900,000 years.
Driving Directions
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Directions to: Ice Lake Basin
print directionsTrail Statistics & Information
| Activity | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Nearby City | Silverton |
| Length | 9.3 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 2,870 ft |
| Skill Level | Mostly well marked and easy to follow. |
| Duration | 6.75 hours |
| Season | Midsummer through mid-fall. The upper parts of the trail are generally covered with snow from early November through mid- July. |
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