Mount Evans Wilderness

Chicago Lakes Lookout–Summit Lake, 4 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 3,687 ft · 5 hr 7 min

Chicago Lakes Lookout–Summit Lake, 4 sights is a 9.8-mile out-and-back in Mount Evans Wilderness near Silver Plume, CO. The route passes Chicago Lakes Lookout before reaching Summit Lake at the turnaround, 4.7 miles in. It climbs 3,687 ft, with sections as steep as 56% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 31/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi11,497 – 13,856 ft · steepest grade: 56%10.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Mount Bierstadt Trail 39.59669, -105.71177
Nearest town Silver Plume, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Chicago Lakes Lookout–Summit Lake, 4 sights

9.8 mi · ▲ 3,687 ft · 5 hr 7 min

Elevation 11,496–13,856 ft

Out & Back · Mount Evans Wilderness

Trailhead: Mount Bierstadt Trail · 39.59669, -105.71177

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mount Bierstadt Trail, heading SE.
  2. 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
  3. 2.5 miSharp left onto Mount Blue Sky Ridge Trail, heading N.
  4. 1.3 miPass Chicago Lakes Lookout.
  5. 50 ftPass Summit Lake.
  6. 100 ftTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading E.
  7. 0.2 miReach Chicago Lakes Lookout, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Mount Blue Sky Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  9. 1.3 miSharp right, heading S.
  10. 2.5 miBear right onto Mount Bierstadt Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.9 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

80% dirt17% other2% gravel1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 7:31 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.3 mi in (~145 min). Leave by 4:46 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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