Directions:

From Fort Collins, head out of town on CO Hwy 14. Take Hwy 40 all the way through Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass. Enter the Park just west of Cameron Pass and follow the park’s dirt road to the end and the Trailhead.

Hike Description:

It used to be a little confusing as to what lakes this hike actually visits.  For a long time, the trail was called the Michigan Lakes Trail while the Lower Lakes are called the American Lakes, and the upper Lake is called Snow Lake.  State Forest State Park seems to have finally settled on the name American Lakes for the lakes, and the trail.  

The American Lakes Trail is incredible!  This is one of the best day hikes in the Cameron Pass area, and could make a great easy backpacking trip as well.  The hike visits the American Lakes, with options to continue up to Snow Lake just 1200 ft away, and Thunder Pass which sits on the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park.  The lakes are breathtaking and the views of the surrounding peaks once you are up in the basin, are mind blowing. 

The hike is about 10 miles roundtrip but it doesn’t quite feel all that challenging.  The trail is pretty mellow for most of the hike with just a few steep sections leading to Snow Lake and Thunder Pass.  The trail starts out through pine forest and the first mile is just a leisurely hike through the woods.  At the 1 mile point, you cross the Michigan Ditch Trail, stay straight to remain on American Lakes.  At this point the landscape opens up and you enter a beautiful valley with your first mountain views of Thunder and Lulu Mountains at the head of the valley.  

The next mile of trail is a flat hike along the edge of the meadow until you cross Michigan River and start heading up the switchbacks.  These are great switchbacks, not too steep, and help you gain most of the remaining elevation gain in a steady easy stride.  The views along the switchbacks get better and better each step of the way.  When you finish the switchbacks, ast the junction with the trail leading down to Crags Campground, you are just a few minutes easy walk to the first American Lake.  The views of the American Lakes Basin as you approach are just spectacular.  Just before the lakes you’ll pass the trail leading off to the south to Thunder Pass, you can choose to head up to the pass first, or save it for later.

The lakes are beautiful!  Plenty of relaxing spots, incredible views, and probably some moose hanging out in the meadows surrounding the lakes.  The trail sticks to the north shore of the lakes and is easy going the entire way.  Past the lakes the trail gains some elevation as it climbs up to Snow Lake.  Be sure to look behind you from time to time to check out the massive views back down on American Lakes.  As you get closure to Snow Lake, there will be some rock hopping across boulders.  

Snow Lake is a different beast altogether, the grassy meadows give way to rocky terrain and the massive cliffs of Static Peak and the Nokhu Crags tower above dramatically.  This is an imposing and beautiful spot. If you can manage to pull yourself away from Snow Lake, head back down the trail past the American Lakes.  Here you have a decision to make.  If you have any energy left and the weather is cooperating, I highly recommend heading up to Thunder Pass; it is only ¾ of a mile and 170 ft of elevation gain away.      

The trail to Thunder Pass crosses the Michigan River and heads up the grassy slopes east of the American Lakes.  As you gain elevation the views down to the lakes become more and more impressive.  At the same time, the views of the surrounding peaks become more and more impressive.  The Nokhu Crags come into full view with their towering pinnacles of granite rising above the basin. The view from Thunder Pass is great.  It looks down into Rocky Mountain National Park…however, just push a little more.  If you turn right, on a faint trail, you can climb up to a knob, just to the west of the pass and views from here are spectacular.  

From the knob, you get views of Static Peak, Mt. Richthofen, and Teepee Mountain all bunched together impressively.  You also get a more expansive view down into the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Never Summer Mountains. This view is well worth the extra effort.   

Now you should be tired, relax and eat.  The way down is the same as you came up, but this time it's all gentle downhill hiking.  You get to experience all the amazing scenery again and bid farewell to an amazing alpine basin.