Hike to Gem Lakes

Once you make your way to the base of the mountain (starting at 7,882' elevation), follow the path towards the right to make your way to Gem Lake; this is where it begins ascending the southeastern portions of Lumpy Ridge. The trail has several rocky S turns and switchbacks. It winds you through beautiful aspen and piney woods and as you get higher you'll pass several scenic views of Estes Park, Longs Peak, and the other mountains in the area. To my pleasant surprise, there is actually an open-air bathroom sitting right on the side of almost the top of the mountain (picture included above)! The closer you get to the lake; you will notice the difficulty increase (and the steepness of the climb). There are many rock steps built into the cliff face to help hikers ascend more safely. Many of the steps are one or two feet in height, which may take longer to climb up than your average hike. At about 1.75 miles, you will finally reach Gem Lake. The lake is formed by trapped melted snow and rain that collects in a carved out portion of the cliff walls that surround the lake. The lake provided such a serene setting, especially after a difficult hike in the summer heat. The water was cold, clean, and absolutely beautiful. While hanging out around the lake, there were TONS of chipmunks that were definitely not shy (picture above)! After reaching a peak at 8,830', accomplishing an elevation gain of 948', and absorbing every last view that we could, we began to make our way back down the mountain. The walk back down seemed easier, as it is mostly a straight down hike, and your momentum builds up naturally so it actually becomes hard to stop at some points!