Crested Butte: Three Lakes Loop Near Kebler Pass

Length:

3.1 miles (loop)

Difficulty:

Easy

Trailhead:

Lost Lake Campground (38.86935, -107.20872); there’s an $8/day fee.

Why we love it:

Visit a trio of alpine lakes on a quick dayhike through fall splendor.

When to go:

June through October; foliage peaks in mid-September, and road closes to vehicles November through May.

Pre-hike fuel:

If you’re coming from the Crested Butte side of Kebler Pass, Camp 4 Coffee opens early, roasts its own beans, and has a stash of savory-filled croissants. Arriving from the west side, stop in Carbondale for a Village Smithy lox and bagel to-go.

Post-hike buzz:

Crested Butte: Secret Stash, of course. Carbondale: Gotta be White House Pizza, for Colorado-style pies and brews.

Restrooms:

Find outhouses at the campground.

Dogs:

Allowed on leash

Kebler Pass needs no introduction. But after taking advantage of every dusty pull-off and gaping at one of the largest aspen groves in the world, consider leaving the rubber-neckers behind and wandering through the gilded forest on foot.

Among your options is the Three Lakes Loop, which deposits hikers at, you guessed it, three alpine pools, each ringed with golden aspen trees, in a manageable three-mile circuit that gains just 519 feet in elevation.

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Begin the loop at the Lost Lake Campground, following the well-marked Three Lakes Trail counterclockwise. Pass meadows that hold pockets of late-summer wildflowers and maneuver over roots and rocks through a thick spruce and fir forest with smears of amber aspens. Near mile 0.7, the trees part to reveal Lost Lake against a mountainous backdrop. Aspens wrap its oval shoreline.

Continue south on the main trail, following signs for the Falls and Dollar Lake. A quick spur near mile 0.9 brings you to said cascade, where frigid snowmelt pours over granite shelves.

Back on the path, follow the trail as it curls east, gaining slight elevation and serving up peekaboo vistas of the Ruby Range to the east and 11,348-foot Marcellina Mountain to the north. Near mile 1.4, split hiker’s right (south) onto a spur trail to reach Dollar Lake, which backs up to a ridge of 12,000-foot peaks. A grassy shoreline provides the perfect environs for picnicking or casting for brookies.

Return to the main trail junction and hang a right, continuing counterclockwise on the Three Lakes Trail. Begin a moderate descent through aspen stands, switchbacking to Lost Lake Slough, the largest of the three tarns, and the adjacent parking lot. Look back to see East and West Beckwith Mountains and the dense, rich-hued forest you just navigated.

Read More: The Best Fall Dayhikes Near Denver

Getting there: From Denver, take I-70 west to Glenwood Springs, Exit 116. Head south on CO 82 for 11.7 miles. Turn right onto CO 133 south and go 42.4 miles through Redstone and over McClure Pass to County Road 12. Turn left, following signs for Kebler Pass, and drive 15 miles. Turn right onto County Road 706 and take it to its terminus at the Lost Lake Campground.

You can also travel to Kebler Pass from Denver by taking Highway 285 south through Buena Vista and west to Crested Butte.