Camp at Thomas Lake and Summit Mt. Sopris
13 Miles
4400 Feet
Camping, Photography, Backpacking, Hiking
Intermediate
Summer, Autumn
Out-and-Back
Summit Mount Sopris (~13,000ft), and overlook all of Carbondale.
With the Elk Mountain range behind it, It appears to be standing by itself, and has the resemblance of a grand volcano.
From Hwy 133 out of Carbondale, turn down Prince Creek Road and drive 6 miles to the trailhead. The trail is a nice mixture of meadows and woods, with excellent views of the valley along the way. The hike to Thomas Lake is about 3.5 miles from the trailhead, and is is easy enough for beginners. There are about 15 campsites near the lake for anyone interested in seeing the magnificent nightscape and the stars reflecting. From Thomas Lake, it's another 4 miles to the peak. The first mile or so is along a dirt trail, but from there on it's mostly jagged and loose rocks until you reach the top. Follow the same trail to get back.
With plenty of camping areas and views that will keep you in awe, hiking the Sopris summit trail to Thomas Lake comes highly recommended.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
Nearby Lodging
Reviews
Overall rating:
Iconic Roaring Fork Valley Hike
Super beautiful hike up to the focal point of lower Roaring Fork Valley. The camp spots at Thomas Lake are great, and makes Sopris a fun overnight trip. All of the talus and scree makes for some pretty sore feet by the end of the trip, but it's well worth it.
Best carbondale adventure
I did this summit on Colorado's birthday 2016. It may not be a14er but it is still a fantastic hike and highly recommend for the climbing addicts.
Can't wait to try it this summer. Thanks for the info!
