Snowshoe around Mesa Lakes

Mesa County, Colorado

5.0/5
based on 1 reviews

Details

Distance

2 miles

Elevation Gain

300 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Alex S

This is an awesome short snowshoe or cross country ski loop with a side trail up to Lost Lake with amazing views of frozen lakes and lots of opportunities to spot wildlife trails and tracks.

This short loop trail starts and ends at Mesa Lakes Lodge, it is a little less than 2 miles round trip. From the lodge, we walked up the road towards our cabin (Bear cabin). Just past the cabin a trail starts that skirts the edge of the first lake and then winds around a few other lakes (Mesa Lake, Beaver Lake, Glacier Springs). The trail is called Lakeside Trail. Part way around there’s a spur trail with a sign pointing towards Lost Lake. This is a short spur trail (quarter mile), although it ascends a few hundred feet so you might be a little winded once you get to the top, but it is very beautiful and silent once you get up there. Lost Lake is beautiful and totally worth it. 

The snow allowed us to see lots of animals tracks. We saw some very large cat prints, mostly likely a lynx, as well as a fox den with many tracks leading to and from it, and many animals trails leading across the lake. When we came over the dam and saw some running water and a few American Dippers dipping in the freezing water!

The trail loops back through the parking lot and you can see the lodge on the other side of the bridge.  

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Features

Photography
Skiing
Snowshoeing
Easy Parking
Food Nearby
Forest
Lake
Scenic
Wildlife

Snowshoe around Mesa Lakes Reviews

Snowshoeing on the Mesa is a treat. You don't need to follow a trail just park your car and go into the forest. Most of the landscape on the Mesa is low angle (it's a Mesa) which makes for an enjoyable hike.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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