The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Snowbank Lake

The trail past the Lion Lakes to Snowbank Lake is less popular than most Wild Basin trails, but leads to a chain of lakes with broad, open views of the high peaks along the western border of Wild Basin. Reaching Snowbank Lake requires some route finding and hiking without aid of a maintained trail.

Distance: 7.7 miles one-way Lake elevation: 11,512 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,500 feet Net elevation gain: 3,012 feet Wild Basin Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Copeland Mountain and Lion Lake #2

Major Trail Landmarks Copeland Falls (0.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Calypso Cascades (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) Ouzel Falls (2.7 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Thunder Lake and Bluebird Trails (3.1 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Thunder Lake and Lion Lake Trails (4.8 miles one-way from trailhead) Lion Lake #1 (7.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - end of maintained trail Lion Lake #2 (7.5 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Snowbank Lake Mount Alice (9.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unmaintained route beyond Lion Lake #1

Backcountry Campsites Near Snowbank Lake There are no sites close to the lake; nearest sites are along the Thunder Lake Trail

The Wild Basin Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide between Meeker Park and Allenspark. Turn west on to Wild Basin Road from Colorado Highway 7, about 13 miles south of Estes Park or 2 miles north of Allenspark. Continue west to the Copeland Lake area, roughly one-half mile from Highway 7. The Wild Basin trailhead is about 2 miles beyond Copeland Lake on a narrow gravel road. The trailhead begins on the south end of the parking area at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. Access to this parking area is limited during seasons when snowfall is still present, so it is generally open June-October. The Thunder Lake Trail leads past Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls before reaching a junction with a trail to Bluebird Lake. Continue toward Thunder Lake, crossing North Saint Vrain Creek, and eventually reaching another junction. At this second major junction, with the trail to Thunder Lake, take the right-hand trail toward Lion Lake #1. The trail begins to climb at a steeper grade, and is narrow in many places as it winds northwest to Lion Lake #1, where the maintained trail fades out. From this point, Snowbank Lake can be reached by either hiking around the south shore of the Lion Lake #1 and toward Lion Lake #2, or hiking straight north to gain elevation and turning west to Lion Lake #2. Snowbank Lake is a short distance northwest of Lion Lake #2. The path beyond Lion Lake #1 is a mix of fragile tundra, meadows, rocks and krummholz, and is more suited for experienced, well-conditioned hikers.

Sample photographs of the hike to Snowbank Lake

View of Isolation Peak from the trail

Copeland Mountain and Lion Lake #1

Lion Lake #1

Mount Alice from Snowbank Lake

Snowbank Lake topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line. Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

Click here to return to the hike profile menu

All users must accept the terms of use of this site. All information on this page conforms to terms of use.

All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws. Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.