GO HIKE COLORADO
Get in Touch:
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • HIKES BY REGION
    • DENVER AREA >
      • Denver Mountain Parks
      • Jefferson County Open Space
      • Lakewood Parks
      • Denver Area Greenways
    • BOULDER AREA
    • DOUGLAS COUNTY
    • FORT COLLINS AREA
    • COLORADO SPRINGS AREA
    • FRONT RANGE
    • TENMILE & MOSQUITO RANGES
    • GORE RANGE
    • SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS
    • PARK RANGE
    • SAWATCH RANGE
    • ELK MOUNTAINS
    • SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS
    • THE FLAT TOPS
    • GRAND MESA
    • COLORADO PLATEAU
    • EASTERN PLAINS
  • NATIONAL PARK HIKES
    • BENT'S OLD FORT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
    • COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
    • DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
    • ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
    • GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK
    • HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENT
    • SAND CREEK MASSACRE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
    • YUCCA HOUSE NATIONAL MONUMENT
  • HIKES BY CATEGORY
    • HIKES TO ALPINE LAKES
    • HIKES TO PEAKS & PASSES
    • HIKES THROUGH CANYONS
    • HIKES WITH FALL COLORS
    • HIKES ALONG THE I-70 CORRIDOR
    • HIKES ON PAVED TRAILS
    • HIKES FOR KIDS
    • HIKES TO WATERFALLS
    • HIKES ALONG RIVERS
    • HIKES WITH ROCK FORMATIONS
    • HIKES WITH WILDFLOWERS
    • WINTER HIKES
  • NEWS
  • WEBCAMS
  • $UPPORT GHC
  • INTERACTIVE MAP

Island Lake Trail
Grand Mesa National Forest

Date Hiked: July 17, 2020

Distance: Up to 2 mi (RT)
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Elevation: 10,260 ft
Trailhead Lat/Long: West TH = 39.03284, -108.00251
Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service
​Fee: Yes

Island Lake Trail Webpage (USFS)
(Blue path indicates path actually hiked.  Red path is an estimation of the remainder of the trail.)

DIRECTIONS:  Island Lake is located along Hwy 65 (Grand Mesa Scenic Byway), 23 miles south of the town of Mesa, CO or 16 miles north of Cedaredge, CO.  There are two trailheads, the eastern is located just to the east of the road to Cobbett Lake.  The western Trailhead is located next to the Boat Launch along "Z Road."

Island Lake is a magnificent sight.  It may be one of the prettiest lakes on the Grand Mesa.  It is also a very busy lake, don't hike this trail looking for solitude.  Island Lake hosts two campgrounds (Island Lake & Little Bear) and is very close to the Grand Mesa Visitor Center so chances are, if you spend any time on Grand Mesa you will find yourself visiting Island Lake.  

The trail follows the southern shore of the lake, and the trail is stunning.  We started our hike from the western Trailhead near the boat launch, a short walk down from the Island Lake Campground.  The trail is easy to follow and meanders through the forest along the lake shore.  The views looking up to the ridge and the Land of Lakes Viewpoint are wonderful.  However, aside from the views, the lake itself is the main attraction.  The water is a brilliant color of blue, peaceful and serene even if the crowds at the Little Bear Campground are not...

Island Lake may not the be the reason to visit Grand Mesa but it is definitely worth some time visiting.  My advice is to camp near the lake and visit in the early morning or at dusk.  It's a truly beautiful lake...

    Have a comment? Leave it here!

Submit
© Go Hike Colorado, 2020.  All Rights Reserved. 
Use of photographs without prior authorization is
​strictly prohibited.


Contact us at:
[email protected]
Legal Disclaimer - Information provided on this site is based upon our own observations, always double check information with the appropriate land management agency before heading into the backcountry.  Backcountry travel is inherently dangerous, please take all proper precautions.  Go Hike Colorado is not responsible for injury or incident.