Hiking in Leadville: Timberline Lake

Description: Out & Back

Difficulty: Beginner

Length: 5 miles 

Notes: The Timberline Lake Trail enters the Holy Cross Wilderness. This is a catch-and-release fishing area. Be sure to check fishing regulations. Water crossing may require wading.

Getting there: From the traffic light at 6th St. and Harrison Avenue, follow Highway 24 south to mile marker 177 and turn right onto McWethy Drive/Lake County Road 4, across from the entrance to Colorado Mountain College. Follow Lake County Road 4 for 1.5 miles, turn right onto Lake County Road 9. Follow Lake County Road 9 for 1.5 miles. Turn left across from the large, paved parking lot (Leadville Junction.) Cross the railroad tracks and the Arkansas River. At the T-intersection, take a right (north) and travel along this paved road for 7 miles to the trailhead for Timberline Lake. Park in this parking lot. Do not park along the paved road.
 
Hiking Leadville: Please click here and scroll down the page to read important safety information about hiking in remote, high-altitude locations. This information is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Forest Service, San Isabel National Forest, Leadville Ranger District and the Lake County Marketing Action Committee. 

About the Area: Leadville and Twin Lakes are criss-crossed with an incredible network of trails. With an average of 310 days of sunshine a year, more than 35,000 acres within four nationally designated Wilderness Areas, and the state’s highest mountains, Lake County, Colorado, features abundant opportunities for year-round, high-country fun. Plan your trip now!

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