Rocky Mountain National Park

Blue Lake–Black Lake Trail, 4 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 3,686 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Blue Lake–Black Lake Trail, 4 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Beaver Point, CO. The route reaches Blue Lake at the turnaround, 8.1 miles in. It climbs 3,686 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi8,800 – 11,205 ft · steepest grade: 29%16.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Bierstadt Lake Trailhead 40.32045, -105.62353
Nearest town Beaver Point, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Lake–Black Lake Trail, 4 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 3,686 ft · 7 hr 13 min

Elevation 8,799–11,205 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park

Trailhead: Bierstadt Lake Trailhead · 40.32045, -105.62353

Weather Sep 4: Heavy drizzle, high 75°F / low 52° · precip 10% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Bierstadt Bus Stop stop 9 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  4. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Boulder Brook Trail, heading SE.
  5. 1.9 miTurn left, heading S.
  6. 0.2 miBear right onto North Longs Peak Trail, heading S.
  7. 2.2 miSharp left onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading SW.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sky Pond Trail, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear left onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading NW.
  10. 3 miTurn left, heading E.
  11. 0.2 miReach Blue Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  13. 150 ftContinue straight onto Black Lake Trail, heading SW.
  14. 3 miBear right onto Sky Pond Trail, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Glacier Gorge Trail, heading NW.
  16. 0.4 miSharp right onto North Longs Peak Trail, heading NE.
  17. 2.2 miBear left onto Boulder Brook Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.2 miTurn left, heading S.
  19. 2.1 miTurn left, heading NW.
  20. 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  21. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Heavy drizzleTemperature 75°F52°
Precip10%Wind8 mphUV8Humidity30%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
75°50°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 74°55°
Sun 73°51° 29%
Mon 70°53° 23%
Tue 73°49° 23%
Wed 75°50° 33%
Thu 77°52° 41%

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Bierstadt Bus Stop stop 9 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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