Lukas Saville, Peak to Peak. The Rockies aren’t just about summer hiking and winter skiing, they also offer some of the best snowshoeing in Colorado.  This is also a great time to explore this natural wonder. You expect to find throngs of crowds in the Rockies during the summer, but most of the crowds are confined to ski resorts in the winter. This leaves the backcountry relatively untouched.

Snowshoeing in the Rockies doesn’t come without its hazards, however. The weather is known to change drastically and without warning, so anyone venturing out on the snowshoe trails should be prepared for these changes. Bring warm clothes and plenty of food and water with you, as you don’t know if the weather will turn your half-day outing into a full-day affair. Because of the many remote locations, help is hard to come by.

The Rockies also present another winter hazard in the form of avalanches. Proper avalanche training is crucial for anyone venturing into avalanche terrain. It’s not enough to just go out with a beacon, probe, and shovel. You need to know how to use the equipment and how to handle the emergency if you ever found yourself in it. There are various levels of avalanche training; AIARE 1 is the minimum recommended training course for anyone planning to go snowshoeing in the Colorado backcountry.

With all of that said, snowshoeing in Colorado is an extraordinary experience. There’s nothing like trudging through fresh powder on a clear day, surrounded by towering peaks and endless views. Many trails end at pristine alpine lakes, which may or may not be covered in snow during winter months. Other trails end at vistas that you won’t forget. Keep reading to learn more about the best trails for winter hiking and snowshoeing in Colorado.

1. Brainard Lake Snowshoeing  

The Brainard Lake snowshoeing trail is a 6.8-mile loop great for beginners and suitable for older children. The winter trailhead for Brainard Lake is approximately one hour west of Boulder. Since it’s an established recreation area, it has a restroom and warming hut in the parking area. This is a well-marked snowshoeing trail that will reward you with breathtaking views, only gaining 456 feet in elevation. Most of the elevation gain occurs near the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, where the loop will start to double back.  When you get to Brainard Lake, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the Indian Peaks and the Continental Divide.

2. Dream Lake Snowshoeing

If you’re looking for a short, easy snowshoeing trail in the Rockies, consider snowshoeing to Dream Lake. This trail is perfect for beginners. It is also family-friendly, and it takes you to a picturesque, small alpine lake backdropped by towering mountains. This is an out-and-back trail two miles long and gains a total elevation of 503 feet. The Dream Lake snowshoeing trailhead is located just a half-hour west of Estes Park.

If the Dream Lake snowshoeing trail wasn’t long enough for you, continue past Dream Lake and snowshoe to Emerald Lake. The snowshoeing trail to Emerald Lake is more intermediate in difficulty, adds 1.2 miles, and has a total of 707 feet of elevation gain from the trailhead. Emerald Lake is just as beautiful as Dream Lake, and you’re sure to find a little more solitude here than what you might find at Dream Lake.

3. St. Mary’s Glacier Snowshoeing 

There are a few great snowshoeing trails near Denver, and the St. Mary’s Glacier snowshoeing trail is towards the top of the list. An hour west of downtown Denver, near Idaho Springs, this beginner trail makes a great day trip for the whole family. The St. Mary’s Glacier snowshoe trail is a short out-and-back at 1.4 miles and gains 436 feet in elevation, with the climb gradual and steady. Most of the hike is through dense forest, but once you get to the lake, you’ll have plenty of views of the Rockies, including a view of St. Mary’s Glacier. If you’ve never been to Idaho Springs, plan on exploring this old mining town on your return.

4. Lake Isabelle Snowshoe Trail 

The Lake Isabelle Snowshoe Trail is a challenging snowshoeing trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The solitude, wildlife, and views make the trek absolutely worth it. This is an out-and-back trail with a total distance of 10.4 miles. The elevation gain is 935 feet and there are a few technical switchbacks; you should have at least an intermediate ability level to attempt the whole trail. The trail will pass through a thick forest at first, but the views start to clear at Long Lake when you get above the tree line. Once past Long Lake, and to the end at Lake Isabelle, the panoramas are stunning.

5. Trout Lake Snowshoeing

Trout Lake is a favorite snowshoeing destination for Telluride visitors. This area has a network of trails for both Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, and you can even snowshoe on groomed trails here. Take your pick of trails of different lengths and ability levels and combine the trails for longer workouts. The snowshoeing trails at Trout Lake are family-friendly and also pet-friendly. Trout Lake is approximately 15 miles south of Telluride on Highway 145.

6. Sugarloaf Mountain Snowshoeing 

Be sure to head out to the Sugarloaf Mountain snowshoeing trail on a bluebird day after fresh snow. Even though the trailhead is just ten miles west of Boulder, the crowds are often sparse. The Sugarloaf Mountain snowshoe trail is only 1.5 miles out-and-back, gains 420 feet in elevation, and is excellent for beginners and families. You’ll gradually climb above the tree line as you ascend Sugarloaf Mountain, finally reaching the prominent bald mountain. The lack of trees at the summit gives you unobstructed 360-degree views of the forests, mountains, and granite domes surrounding you in all directions. 

7. Maroon Lake Snowshoeing 

Maroon Lake and Maroon Bells are one of the most popular hiking destinations in the summer, but also worth a visit in the winter. The road to Maroon Lake is closed in the winter, but you can snowshoe to Maroon Lake if you have the time. The hike comes out to twelve miles round-trip, gaining 1,380 feet in elevation. This is an intermediate trail, but it passes through avalanche terrain, so be sure you’re checking the conditions and are prepared for travel in avalanche country. When you get to Maroon Lake, you’ll have amazing views of Maroon Bells, all draped in snow, a scene that summer visitors never see.

8. Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

There are some great snowshoeing trails at Steamboat Springs Ski Resort; two of them start at the top of the Thunderhead gondola near Thunderhead Lodge. One option is to snowshoe from Thunderhead Lodge to the Four Points Lodge via the Chisolm Trail. This is an intermediate trail that’s 2.4 miles round-trip and gains 661 feet in elevation. Be mindful that you’ll be crossing ski runs on this trail; always look uphill for traffic. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can snowshoe the four-mile Duster Loop Trail to the Rendezvous Hut. This snowshoe trail is family-friendly and great for beginners since the elevation gain is just under 300 feet and on easy terrain. Whichever one you choose, head into the respective lodges to relax and warm up with some hot chocolate before heading back to the gondola.

9. Chasm Lake Snowshoeing

One of the most strenuous snowshoeing trails in Colorado is the Chasm Lake snowshoe trail. This trail is an eight-mile out-and-back, and even though it’s not a long trail, it gains 2,421 feet in elevation through technical terrain that can be hazardous for the inexperienced. This trail is best left to the experts. The reward, however, is magnificent Chasm Lake with unobstructed views of Longs’ Peak Diamond Face directly above it. Columbine Falls will likely be frozen as you cross Roaring Fork with views of Peacock Pool below you. The trailhead for this steep Chasm Lake snowshoeing trail is in Rocky Mountain National Park, roughly an hour northwest of Boulder.

10. Lone Eagle Peak Snowshoeing

If you find yourself on the west side of the Continental Divide and are up for the challenge, try the Lone Eagle Peak snowshoeing trail. This is a long, strenuous trail not suitable for anyone without expert backcountry travel skills. The out-and-back distance is 15.2 miles, and the total elevation gain is 2,372 feet. Plan on spending an entire day on this snowshoeing trail. The Lone Eagle Peak snowshoe trailhead is on the east side of Lake Granby, approximately 2.5 hours west of Denver and one hour east of Kremmling. One of the highlights of this spectacular trail is the multiple waterfalls, the largest being Cascade Falls, which is actually a series of four waterfalls. The Cascade Creek Trail takes you deep into the Indian Peaks Wilderness and avalanche country. The trail ends as you approach Mirror Lake, with the majestic Lone Eagle Peak rising into the sky in front of you.

For more information, check out the website at https://www.10adventures.com/.

(Originally published in the December 26, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)