The Most Eye-Popping Blue Lake in Colorado Is Hidden at 12,000 Feet Above Sea Level

Ice Lake Basin, Colorado

Ice Lake Basin packs everything great about Colorado hiking into one spot: a challenging trail that climbs 2,500 feet through wildflower meadows and alpine terrain, leading to an electric-blue lake that looks edited but isn’t. The 7-mile round trip hits you with views of the San Juan Mountains the whole way up. It’s truly stunning, and here are more reasons why.

It’s HIGH

Ice Lake Basin is a high-alpine valley tucked in the San Juan Mountains near Silverton. At about 12,260 feet, this natural bowl was carved out by glaciers during the last ice age.

The Blue Color Comes From Glacial Flour

That crazy blue water in Ice Lake is real. The color comes from “glacial flour” or tiny rock particles (less than 0.003 millimeters) ground down by glaciers over thousands of years.

Sunlight hits these particles and bounces back mostly blue light, creating that electric color. Catch it at the right time and you might even see purple hints. The lake goes down about 100 feet at its deepest point, making the color even more intense.

The Basin Has Three Main Lakes

The upper basin is a medley of three alpine gems with totally different vibes. There’s Ice Lake with its jaw-dropping blue waters and Island Lake with its flat-topped rock (resembles an island when waters ebb), sitting in the middle at 12,400 feet.

Fuller Lake offers deep blue-green waters (the least visited one) surrounded by peaks like Golden Horn and Vermillion Peak. Each lake sits at different heights, creating a cool stair-step effect across the landscape.

While Ice Lake sits lowest at 12,300 feet, the highest Fuller Lake at 12,600 feet, creates killer photo ops. Beyond the big three, you’ll find smaller pools scattered around after snowmelt.

Protected by 13ers

The basin sits like a jewel surrounded by massive mountains, making a sort of natural amphitheater. These jagged peaks all tower above 13,000 feet, with U.S. Grant Peak topping out at 13,767 feet.

Other monsters include Fuller Peak (13,761 ft), Vermilion Peak (13,894 ft), and Golden Horn (13,780 ft). These mountains formed through volcanic action millions of years ago, giving them distinctive reddish and golden colors.

The Trail Gains 2,430 Feet in 3.75 Miles

Getting to the basin means tackling one tough day hike. The trail starts at South Mineral Campground (9,845 ft) and is accessible via a 4.4-mile gravel road from Highway 550 near Silverton.

The hike breaks down into stages: forest section along Clear Creek, then opening into a lower basin meadow, before hitting the steepest part up to Ice Lake. An extra mile gets you to Island Lake with killer views of Fuller Peak. The whole trip runs 7-9 miles round-trip and takes most people 5-7 hours.

Old Mining Ruins Line the Trail

While hiking, you’ll spot remnants from Colorado’s mining days scattered along the trail. The San Juan Mining District boomed between 1871 and the early 1900s with prospectors swarming these mountains for silver and gold.

You can still see abandoned mine shafts, tailings piles, and ruins of an old mining cabin. Near the Island Lake junction, check out what’s left of the Flora Mine (rusty equipment and all).

Remnants from an old mining operation on the Ice Lake trail are also prevalent, with operations continuing sporadically into the mid-20th century. Just remember these are protected historical artifacts, so you can look but don’t touch anything.

The 2020 Fire Burned 596 Acres

Parts of the trail still show signs of the October 2020 Ice Fire which burned more than 500 acres before firefighters and snowfall finally knocked it down. It burned steep terrain in the South Mineral Creek drainage, affecting areas around the Ice Lakes Trail and Clear Lake Road. After the fire, the trail stayed closed until September 2021.

The upper basin barely got touched since it’s above the treeline. Today you’ll see blackened tree trunks with new growth as nature does its thing.

Water Stays Below 50 Degrees

Swimming’s allowed but hypothermia is no joke at this elevation. The slopes above the lake lead to smaller unnamed pools and at the top, Fuller Lake’s (1.75 miles) incredible viewpoints. Always pack extra layers as the weather changes fast up here.

Some will dive into the crystal blue waters for a quick cold splash. Don’t expect temps above 50°F even in August. Bring a fishing rod to catch cutthroat or brook trout and make sure you’ve got a Colorado fishing license.

Wildflowers Peak in Late July

From late July through early August, the basin turns into Colorado’s best wildflower show. Lower meadows around 11,500 feet explode with columbines, lupine, paintbrush, and cow parsnip in purples, blues, reds, and whites.

Higher up, tougher alpine flowers like forget-me-nots, alpine sunflowers, and marsh marigolds somehow thrive above 12,000 feet. The basin’s shape and water sources create perfect conditions for dense flower patches.

The Parking Lot Fills EARLY

Summer weekends are crazy as the parking lot fills before 7 AM, with over 400 hikers hitting the trail on peak days like 4th of July. Everything changed around 2015 when social media made those blue waters famous.

Want to avoid crowds? Go Tuesdays or Wednesdays when there’s 40% fewer people. Starting early (before 6 AM) or late afternoon works too, though watch for afternoon storms.

To minimize crowds at Ice Lakes Basin, visit during the shoulder season (late June to mid-September) or arrive very early, especially on weekends.

Reaching the Trailhead from Silverton

Planning your Ice Lake trip takes some homework. The trailhead is at South Mineral Campground, about 4.4 miles west of Silverton on County Road 7 (also called Forest Road 585) which takes 10 to 15 minutes by car. The dirt road works for most in summer but closes after snow.

Stock up in Silverton as there’s nothing at the trailhead. Best hiking time? Mid-July through late September. Snow sticks around into July and returns by early October. Afternoon thunderstorms happen all the time, so start early.

Bring good hiking boots, rain gear no matter what, sun protection, and at least 2-3 liters of water per person. Cell phones don’t work up there, so consider a satellite messenger for emergencies.