After completing all 14er hikes I could access in the S2000 during July of 2021, I decided to try out a cool lake hike instead of going for more summits! The hike I decided on was to the Willow Lakes on the Gore Range Trail, and the views at the lakes were spectacular!
The views on this trail are fantastic, but the whole time I was racing an incoming storm and trying not to choke on the smoke clogging the air! What could have been a nice easy hike after some serious 14ers turned into a rushed outing contending with both smoke and weather, sounds like fun!
Miles/Elevation:
11.9 miles
2,716 feet vertical gain
About Eagles Nest Wilderness:
The Eagles Nest Wilderness is a federal wilderness area located within Colorado. Managed by White River National Forest, Eagles Nest contains just over 133,000 acres of rugged highlands. Centered around the jagged Gore Range, Eagles Nest contains alpine lakes, rock strewn ridgelines, high peaks, and mountain streams.
Registration is required for overnight use, but not for day use. Pre-booked reservations are not required, and wilderness permits can be self issued at trailheads.
Getting To The Trailhead:
The trailhead can be found outside of Silverthorne Colorado, and is marked as the Willowbrook Trailhead on Google Maps. First, take I-70 to Silverthorne, then exit onto highway 9 going north. Continue north on 9 for about 2 miles, then turn left onto Willowbrook Road. Continue on Willowbrook Road for one mile, then the trailhead will be on the left. There is a small parking area on the side of the road.
The Gore Range Trail to Willow Lakes:
Through The Trees:
From the trailhead, you very quickly enter a green, lush forest. You’ll cross a couple of small streams early on, as well as hike along North Willow Creek for much of the day. This abundance of water was obvious hiking through this very green forest. The lower forest alternates between growths of Aspen and pines, usually with a thick undergrowth of shrubs and grasses.
Huron Peak is a great easy 14er to challenge yourself on!
This early part of the hike climbs pretty consistently, but is not overly steep. You will be ascending from more or less the minute you start the hike, but this isn’t an incredibly steep trail, especially by Colorado standards. Over the first mile, you’ll gain around 600 feet of elevation, not a huge amount, but definitely noticeable.
After a pleasant walk through the woods to start the day, you will eventually climb into an old burn scar where the old forest was burned away. This burn scar will make up the next hour or so of your hike.
Into The Burn Scar:
The burn scar here shows definite signs of regrowth and recovery. Amongst the dead and fallen trees are many young pines and shrubs, but these new trees are small, and unfortunately don’t really provide any shade.
While not having shade is a bummer, and in the afternoon could yield a brutally hot and sunny climb, it does allow you to start catching glimpses of the views to come. Looking ahead, you may begin to see the ridges and peaks of the Gore Range, and behind, you will eventually have huge open views of Silverthorne and the mountains beyond!
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There isn’t a lot to say about the hike through the burn scar. It’s not super steep. In the second mile of the hike you only gain about 400 feet. It’s also not very scenic. The views looking out are sporadic at best, and the regrowing forest certainly isn’t as pretty as an old growth grove.
The main thing to note about this middle section of the hike is an intersection that comes about 2.7 miles into the hike. The trail forks into two: going left is the Willow Lake Trail, and going right follows the Gore Range Trail. To continue to the Willow Lakes, head left on the Willow Lake Trail!
The Upper Forest:
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
After the trail junction at 2.7 miles, the trail kicks up and climbs a ridge on the side of the valley heading deeper into the mountains. No longer will you be hiking along the banks of North Willow Creek, now you’ll be 500 feet above it!
The climb up the ridge isn’t actually that steep, it’ll probably be the elevation that gets most people rather than the intensity of the trail. In about 1.2 miles, the trail ascends around 800 feet, a bit steeper than the earlier parts of the trail, but again nothing crazy.
Once you’re up on the ridge, the trail flattens out for a mile or so as you approach the lakes themselves near the head of the valley. Here, you will be above the valley with awesome views looking across to the peaks beyond, as well as back towards Silverthorne! Unfortunately, when I did this hike it was super smokey, so the views I had weren’t as epic as I think they could be!
You’ll find bears in the Rockies so always be bear safe!
Continue hiking for a bit over a mile along a mostly flat, though rocky, trail, crossing a couple of streams as you go. Soon, you will enter into the upper basin, and find the lakes themselves!
Willow Lakes:
You’ll have been seeing evidence of water for quite a while before you actually see the lakes, from the numerous stream crossings on this trail, to the marshy wetlands that signal your arrival in the lakes basin. Once you see the marsh, you’re just about there!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
I’m not exactly sure how many lakes there are among the Willow Lakes, but I’d say there are at least 4 based on the maps I have seen of the area. You’ll hike past all of them, or almost all of them on your hike, passing some on your left and some on your right, but to reach the most spectacular, you’ll have to continue all the way to the end of the trail.
The earlier Willow Lakes are nice, but not spectacular enough to warrant the slog getting to them. The final lake though is definitely worth it! Once you’re at the lakes, there is one more small little climb to do around a small hill situated between the 4 lakes. Once over this hill, drop down the other side, and take a left to reach the distal lake in the chain!
The final Willow Lake is magnificently tucked in along the base of a stunning rocky ridgeline of the Gore Range. From the waters edge, talus fields lead toward the peaks themselves, jutting into the sky. And here, there aren’t just one or two peaks. There are at least a dozen large and small summits, some just vertical spires branching off other larger peaks.
The view up here is legitimately awesome, and I really wanted to slow down and enjoy the view for a while. However, I could tell by the color of the sky above the summits that I was enjoying that the weather was not going to hold for long. I took a couple pictures, had a really quick snack, and then set off back down the trail, hoping to avoid the rain I was sure was coming!
Hiking Out:
The hike back from the Willow Lakes is super straightforward. There’s no technical sections of trail, and there are two obvious intersections that you shouldn’t have any issue figuring out.
I think this would be a really good trail to run if you are a trail runner. The incline is never too extreme, so if you’re in good enough shape, the climb shouldn’t be too bad, and the descent is gentle enough that you wouldn’t have to pick your way down or do anything technical. Unfortunately, I certainly wasn’t in shape to run this trail, nor did I have the gear, so I hiked the whole way out.
Not gonna lie, the hike out really dragged on. As an out and back hike, you get the same views and same trail going out as you did heading in. This obviously didn’t surprise me, but the views on the hike out weren’t exactly inspiring, and they were even less so on the hike back in.
However, I made my way along the ridge, and then back down the ridge to the trail junction, and then back through the burned forest, and then back into the lush forest, and then I was done! Even better, I didn’t get wet!
While it wasn’t the most spectacular hike I’ve ever done, I did enjoy the trail, and I do think it’s worth your time. Would I cross oceans to hike to the Willow Lakes? No I wouldn’t, but if you’re in the area and are looking for a moderately difficult hike, or an alpine lake to swim in, it might be a good option to consider!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
This is a classic example of a hike where the end destination is awesome, but the trail getting there is underwhelming. The lakes themselves deserve your visit, but it’s a pretty uninteresting slog to get there. The hike isn’t difficult, but honestly it would have been more interesting if it was.
I generally get bored of hiking through the woods without views, but a lot of this trail is through a burned forest with no views. It’s honestly not even a pretty walk through the woods. I wish the trail to get to the lakes was close to as nice as the lakes themselves, but alas, c’est la vie.
This is a worthwhile hike because the final lake is fantastic, but there are definitely better trails in the area. If you have a day to kill and no firm plans, sure give it a shot, you won’t have a bad time. But, there are better trails to be found, especially in this part of Colorado!
Pros:
- Awesome views at the lakes
- Multiple alpine lakes
- Easily accessible on fully paved roads
- Light use
Cons:
- Longs sections of burnt environment
- Uninspiring views for most of the trail
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike To The Willow Lakes:
This trail will take you over 11,000 feet, so the biggest factor to consider is snow. There will likely be snow here until well into May, and probably into June. Peak hiking season in Colorado is July and August, but you should be able to hike to the Willow Lakes from June to September or October.
I generally prefer hiking early in the season, but all I can say is the best time to hike this loop is once the snow has melted. Whether that’s May or early June is impossible to say. Keep an eye on the conditions, or just wait until sometime in June and you should be good pretty much any year! Although, the fall colors among the aspens would be spectacular!
Links For Further Reading:
Willow Lakes via Gore Range Trail
Your Ultimate Guide to Willow Lakes Colorado
White River National Forest – Upper Willow Lakes/Salmon Lake #36
