Cascade Lake–Buffalo Lake, 3 lakes
4.9 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Cascade Lake–Buffalo Lake, 3 lakes is a 4.9-mile out-and-back near Mountain View Estates, CO. The route passes Buffalo Lake before reaching Cascade Lake at the turnaround, 2.5 miles in. It is mostly level, with 218 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Cascade Lake–Buffalo Lake, 3 lakes
4.9 mi · ▲ 218 ft · 1 hr 45 min
Elevation 5,139–5,307 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Anthem Trail · 39.98253, -105.03615
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 93°F / low 57° · precip 5% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:32 AM · sunset 7:29 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Anthem Trail, heading W.
- 1.1 miTurn left, heading NE.
- 400 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
- 300 ftSharp left, heading NW.
- 250 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 100 ftSharp right onto Bison Trail, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 250 ftPass Buffalo Lake.
- 200 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftReach Cascade Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
- 0.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 400 ftBear left, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp right, heading W.
- 300 ftTurn left onto Anthem Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SE.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 1.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:04 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:49 PM — 7 min before dark.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Anthem Trail Trailhead
- Anthem Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 80 ft
- Coal Creek Viewpoint & Anthem Trail 5.6 mi · ▲ 162 ft
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Hikes near Mountain View Estates, Colorado