I need to preface this hike by saying no, I was not just in Colorado (I wish!). This hike actually happened a few days before a conference I was attending in Denver, back in mid October of 2024. Until now this post has been lingering in the vault of unpublished stories because, well, life.
But I haven’t forgotten about it! Especially because it’s one of the coolest hikes I’ve ever done. So with that, I still wanted to share this incredible day, because it’s definitely one I hope to revisit someday. Maybe even someday soon. Enjoy!
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Are you visiting the Denver area and want to knock out a killer hike while in town? Well that was me, and let me tell you, I have the hike for you. Chasm Lake.
Now, if you are researching hikes in Colorado, you already know the 14’ers are all the rage. It’s a rite of passage for many hikers, and this state has plenty of options to offer. In fact, according to the Colorado Geological Survey, there are over 58 of them in Colorado alone.
But let me tell you why a 14’er might not be the best choice if you are in town for a short time.
First, most of use live at much lower elevations, and attempting to quickly ascend to these heights puts you at risk for altitude sickness. Even getting up to 12,000ft while I was there, I felt it.
If you don’t have proper time to adjust, reconsider your hike.
Second, some of these 14’ers, frankly, aren’t all that pretty. Sure, you get bragging rights, but the tundra and the views are just … ok. Make sure to read reviews on AllTrails and the like before you pick your hike. Some are described as a basic walk through brown rocks and tundra. But hey, you get the elevation.
But with Chasm Lake you get a bit of both: beauty AND the heights. Maybe it’s not a 14’er, but it’s pretty close!
This is why I somewhat sadly gave up my idea of accomplishing a 14’er (at least for now!), and decided to make other arrangements. Living at sea level, I didn’t want to be nonchalant about the elevation, and I desired a trek with some Colorado beauty.
A lake never disappoints, am I right?
Per usual Danielle-style, I was contemplating hikes until I was enroute to Colorado. And then a fellow IG hiker posted pics from Chasm Lake and I was like …. this is it! I gotta ask where this hike is!
She was so gracious to give me all the deets and help me figure out my new plan. Shout out to all my hiker IG friends — thank you!
Chasm Lake: The Details
Chasm Lake is technically located within Rocky Mountain National Park, and this park does required a timed entry pass. As you can probably tell, I did not have that going in.
The good news? The park holds a certain number back and releases them the night before. So, at my Airbnb in Boulder that evening, I logged on right at 5pm to secure a spot. Done and done. Phew.
With the biggest hurdle out of the way, here are the other technical specs to be aware of:
Chasm Lake Hike:
Difficulty: Strenuous
Distance: 8.4 miles
Starting Elevation: 9,400 ft (yikers, my fellow Washingtonians)
Summit Elevation: 11,800 ft (let’s just call it 12 to our friends, ok?)
Total Elevation Gain: 2,539 ft (no biggy there, but you will feel it)
Time required: Plan at least 4-6 hours. If you are not used to elevation, like me, go slow and check in with yourself every mile or so. Assess for signs of elevation sickness frequently.
Timed Entry Permit: Note you that you do need a permit, but you do not need the entry permit that requires Bear Lake Rd. Took me a minute to figure that out. If you don’t score one ahead of time, log onto recreation.gov at 5pm the night before and snatch one up.
Entry location & Parking: Despite it being “within” the park, you actually do not need to go through an official national part entrance. Follow your GPS to the trailhead and park. But … be aware the official parking lot is quite small. Most reports say it’s filled before 6am. The *only reason I think I got a spot on a Sunday is because the day was super foggy and clouded. More on that below, but I got parking no problem in the lot at 8am. Otherwise, see where others are parking along the road and follow suit.
Other notes: There are often snow patches near the top late into the season, so read trip reports before you go. I avoid hikes with sketchy snow personally, so factor that in. My trip was in October, so no problems in that department. Also weather. Lightning storms are a big deal in Colorado, so read up on safety and whenever possible, start your hike as early as possible. Most storms start later in the afternoon, but still that’s no guarantee of safety. Do your research and change plans if things don’t look safe.
My Chasm Lake Hike
So like I mentioned, I got started at the very early hour of 8am. I’m not good with mornings, so 8am is a huge win, especially after driving an hour from Boulder. I did see a moose along the drive, so that was fun.
The trailhead is pretty obvious, right next to the ranger station with its stark reminder that you are now above 9,000 ft.
Also like I mentioned, normally the trailhead parking would be full by 8am, but because a heavy, dense mist sat over the area, I think many people decided to hike elsewhere. What good is a lake or a peak if you can’t see it? Definitely been there done that, but I was already here with no other plans, so like we all do with many a hike, you hope for the best.
You can see how visibility was, well, poor. For the first several miles of the trail I couldn’t see much beyond the trail itself. The vegetation definitely felt different, though, and for someone from out of state, that was neat in and of itself.
This was not as neat. Lightning is not typically something we think of or worry about in Washington, but it’s a much bigger deal here. Thankfully no storms in the forecast, but do read up on lightning safety before you hike at elevation in Colorado.
The signage along the way was very helpful. Apparently this is also a trail for Longs Peak (Keyhole route) which is another reason this trail can get quite busy. Not a problem on my fogged in day.
It was around this time, several miles in, that I began to see hikers on their descent. A few stopped to chat with me, to my surprise, and one hiker gave me very important advice. “The views are there,” she said. “Just wait. It may take 30 minutes, but just wait.” Having little hope this fog would lift, I tucked that bit of info away.
The fog continued, but here and there glimpes of sky and ground appeared. The mist kept shifting and even the sun poked out a few times.
It was still cold, but hope entered my soul. Maybe some views today? Even just this bit of sky opening made the whole hike worth it. I could see the tundra! I’m easy to please.
And overeall the walk so far had been … easy by most accounts. Yes I could feel the elevation but the hiking itself wasn’t overly difficult. Beautiful streams and even a few waterfalls made the route all the more enjoyable. Until I hit the scramble.
It’s not that the scramble is actually all that hard. It was simply unexpected given how far I had come without too much difficulty thus far. Just watch your step, use your hands as needed, and it’s totally doable.
And just know this is your last push. Over that mini mountain is your long awaited destination.
But as I ascended and achieved final destination, the fog was still there. I could not see the lake. At all. I wasn’t even sure exactly where it was.
But I remembered what the hiker had told me. Wait. And so I waited. I literally sat on a rock and waited.
And as I’m sure you can guess, the fog indeed did start to blow away. And as if by magic, the lake literally blew into view. She was right! It was incredible! The surrounding mountains popped out as well, creating an expansive masterpiece that only seconds ago didn’t exist. Surreal. Isn’t this what we hike for?
The mist kept coming in and out, but I sat there for awhile, enjoying a snack, and enjoying the views as they appeared, disappeared, and reappeared again. So worth it! Also, the rocks are really fun for hopping around and getting different vantage points.
From then on it was a totally different hike. The sun came out as I slowly made my way back, and the Colorado pikas made a showing as well. I swear they took totally different than the Washington ones.
Overall, I really lucked out with the day! If you still have time and energy after the hike, it’s worth it to drive over to the Alpine visitor center at Rocky Mountain National Park, which, as Google tells me, is the highest elevation visitor center within our park system.
Buy a sticker at the store to commemorate your visit and definitely do a quick walk up to the highest point there. Then, if you feel up for it like I did, take a drive around the entire park before making your way to Boulder, Denver, or another beautiful area of Colorado.
Until next time Colorado! I will be back.
