I have a new favorite hike! How many times am I going to say that this summer? But seriously, this one hit all the marks. It starts with a lake, there’s a lake in the middle and you end at the first lake. (I’m a big fan of a destination in a hike) There’s a ton of shade, variety in the terrain and beautiful views. This one was also nicely divided into four miles and distinct sections.
Mile One: You make your way from Echo Lake to a pretty quick descent. This is pretty rocky and there’s a sharp drop down the side, so watch your step! But very quickly you get incredible views. Plus, it’s mostly shaded which is nice too.
Mile Two: Up an old service road! This hike feels backward in terms of when you’re going up vs down, but I kind of like the way it’s mixed up. The walk up the service road isn’t quite as scenic, but it’s still nice and we even saw some horses. Then before you know it, there’s the reservoir!
Idaho Springs Reservoir: Nice little gem in the middle of the mountains! It’s cute and you can make your way around it to a nice area to sit, even walk the circle if you’d like. You can carry on to the Chicago Lakes from here or turn around to make it an even four miles.
Mile Three: Same as mile two, just reversed. Back down the service road!
Mile Four: I don’t particularly love ending a hike on an incline, but this wasn’t too bad. The rocky steps bring you right back up that first mile and the views make it nice to stop and take a “water break” (or what I pretend to be doing while I’m catching my breath.)
All in all, a fantastic hike – would definitely recommend!
