Hope Lake Hike: The Ultimate Day Hike In Telluride, Colorado

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Hope Lake Colorado Hike

Looking for a beautiful backcountry alpine lake hike in Colorado? You’re in the right place! Hope Lake hike in Telluride, offers epic views of the San Juan Mountains within the Umcompadre National Forest. With lush alpine meadows, and vivid glacier blue water, it’s every Colorado explorer’s dream!

Hope Lake is a day hike that will literally take your breath away (due to the high altitude and possibility of a glacier ice bath) that offers spectacular views!

This guide is going to cover everything you need to know about hiking Lake Hope Trail in Telluride, Colorado. Including how to get there, trail information, the best time to visit, and what gear to pack. So keep reading to discover one of the most amazing lake hikes in Colorado.

If you are looking for more trails to trek, check out our hiking guide to the 7 most incredible hikes in Telluride including Bridal Veil Falls, Bear Creek Trail, Cornet Creek Falls, and more! You can also read our detailed travel guide that shares the 10 best things to do in Telluride when you visit in the summer!

Lake Hope Trail Details

Trail Distance: 6 miles out & back
Elevation Gain: 1,515 feet
Difficulty: Moderate Hike
Trail Traffic: Heavy Use
Trailhead Directions: All Trails Map

Why Hike Hope Lake Telluride

Hope lake Colorado is one of those magical places that only dreams are made of—but it’s real life! With 360 views of multiple 13 and 14ers in the distance, copper-colored mountains, vibrant green meadows, and beautiful wildflowers, plus stunning views of a glacier lake, there are so many reasons to put this hike on your bucket list when you visit Telluride in the summer months.

Directions to Hope Lake

Hope Lake trail is located in the Uncompahgre National Forest just 45 minutes outside of Telluride, Colorado.

In order to reach the Trailhead from Telluride, you’ll need to head west on Highway 145 towards Trout Lake. Turn Left on County road 63A (follow the sign for trout lake).

You’ll drive next to trout lake for about a mile, then take a left onto Hope Lake Road (Forest Service Rd #627) for 2.5 miles. This road is very rocky so a 4×4 high clearance vehicle is recommended. Click here for directions to the trailhead.

There is parking for plenty of vehicles, but it can get busy in the summer because this is a very popular hike.

Trail Information

Whenever I go on a hike, I always try to gather as much information as possible before hitting the trail. This helps me when planning what to pack, wear and expect before we get there. For this, we use an app called AllTrails. It’s a great resource for learning how long the hike is, the difficulty, and GPS coordinates to the trailhead.

Hope Lake trail is a 6-mile out-and-back hike that takes you 1,515 feet in elevation gain up to the lake on a high trafficked, moderately steep trail.

Beginning The Hike

Hope lake trail starts at 10,750 ft in elevation and gradually ascends through the trees. The trail opens up to a meadow with beautiful high country wildflowers before crossing poverty gulch and begins to ascend again through the trees.

Most of your elevation gain will come from the switchbacks. Have plenty of water ready for quick breaks up this popular trail!

Halfway Point

You’ll know you’re about halfway there when you emerge from the trees and you start to see towering mountains in the distance. The views towards trout lake are spectacular and you can see the best views of the three highest 14ers in the area.

We had to stop here to take a break because the switchbacks were intense. The mountain air was so crisp though, it felt good. This was my favorite view of the valley below. The way the sun was giving everything such a rich green tone.

Mountain Peaks you will see on your hike:

Vermilion Peak: 13,894 ft (pictured below)
El Diente: 14,160 ft
Mt. Wilson: 14,242 ft
Wilson Peak: 14,023 ft

Reaching Lake Hope in Telluride

The final steps to the lake comes as a surprise! The trail looks like it descends right into the lake. The wildflowers are in full bloom and you can see some snow left behind on the mountains in the background.

Seeing the Lake for the first time was absolutely stunning. With mountains surrounding the lake, it reflects the peaks in the glassy water. The color of the water is incredible. From a distance, it looks like a deep shade of turquoise, and when you step up to the water’s edge, it’s crystal clear.

We decided we wanted to continue up the trail (to the left of the lake) to get some space to ourselves and view the lake from above. We stopped to fill our water bottle with fresh spring water. We were rewarded at the top with majestic views of the surrounding mountains (this adds an extra mile to your hike). Well worth it!

Can you Swim in Hope Lake?

Fancy a dip in the water? Many find a swim in this alpine lake a refreshing experience! Much like an ice bath, glacial-fed lakes are very cold but we saw a few people jump right in while eating our snacks by the lake.

Be sure to bring a quick-dry towel, and some extra clothes to change into afterward if you decide to plunge into the water.

How Long Does it Take to Hike Hope Lake?

On average, most hikers can complete the hike anywhere from 3-5 hours. This all depends on your skill level, and how long you take in the scenery at Hope Lake.

This Telluride hike can be completed in one day. Getting to the lake will take longer than getting back down. We had to stop and catch our breath quite a few times on the way up because of the altitude (and we’re Colorado natives!)

Best Time to Visit

So when is the best time to visit? Since many backcountry trail in colorado are only open in the summer months, the best time to visit is from June-August when the trail is dry and the wildflowers are blooming.

What to Pack for Your hike

Bring along this essential hiking gear and make sure you are prepared for you Colorado adventure!

Hiking Boots: Bring a pair of comfortable hiking boots. I wear my Oboz on all of my Colorado hikes.
Rain Jacket: Hiking in Colorado means the weather can change drastically in just a few hours. You might set off on your adventure with clear skies, but within an hour, a rainstorm can quickly move in. Make sure to pack a rain jacket.
Water Bottle: Pack a water bottle or Nalgene. You will want to make sure you stay hydrated to avoid altitude sickness.
Sunscreen + Bug Spray: Since Hope Lake is well over 10,000 ft in elevation, you will want to bring sunscreen so you don’t burn to a crisp. Those high elevation hikes can expose you to more sun than you think! Pack bug spray to keep mosquitos at bay.
First Aid Kit: Always carry first aid emergency supplies. You never know when you could slip and fall and need to mend a cut!
Camera: You’ll definitely want to remember Hope Lake’s epic scenery. Check out the camera we currently use on all our hikes.
Snacks: Bring along an apple or cliff bars to refuel. When hiking where you gain elevation, you will burn a lot of calories and need energy to get back down the trail.
Backpack: Make sure you have a backpack to carry everything on this list!

For a more detailed list of what gear to have in your backpack, check out our post about What to Pack for a Day Hike or our Hiking Safety Guide for Beginners.

Telluride Hiking Trail

This day hike was one of the most beautiful alpine lake hikes we have done. Colorado truly has some incredible places to explore.

I hope this post helped you figure out exactly what to expect on your hike to Hope Lake. If you do decide to hike this lake, read up on the Leave No trace Principles and learn proper trail etiquette so we can enjoy beautiful places like Hope Lake for generations to come.

Other Telluride Hiking Trails to Try: