Hike Mt. Sopris via Thomas Lakes Trail

Mt. Sopris is one of the biggest mountains near the town of Glenwood Springs; it towers over places such as Carbondale and Colorado Mountain College. The view from the top of the mountain is amazing, you can see a full 360 degree view of the mountains and up Glenwood Canyon! As you hike up, you pass Thomas Lakes which are great to fish, and a wonderful spot to stop for lunch or camp overnight at the 13 campsites. This is a difficult hike, but well worth the work all along the trail. This is a long hike so you'll probably want to start early!!

After you start the trail, you go about two miles (following signs for Thomas Lakes) to reach Thomas Lakes. After the lakes is when the hike gets steep, and very strenuous - you hike following the ridge (very loose rock be careful!) until you reach a false summit. After the false summit you just have one last small stretch for a few hundred more feet of elevation gain and you'll be at the summit!!

It took me and my group a total of 9 hours to do the whole trail so plan accordingly! But as always, have so much fun on this amazing hike!

Getting there: From the intersection of Colorado State Highway 82 and Highway 133, head south on Highway 133, through the town of Carbondale and at about 2.5 miles from the intersection you need to turn left on Prince Creek Road. Follow this road for about 5 miles until you come to a potentially confusing intersection. Keep right to follow the road to Dinkle Lake. The parking area for the trailhead for Mount Sopris is at Dinkle Lake - about a mile and a half from the intersection!