Lower Crystal Lake–Upper Crystal Lake, 6 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 3,147 ft · 5 hr 46 min
Lower Crystal Lake–Upper Crystal Lake, 6 sights is a 12.6-mile out-and-back near Tordal Estates, CO. The route passes Lower Crystal Lake before reaching Upper Crystal Lake at the turnaround, 6.3 miles in. It climbs 3,147 ft, with sections as steep as 22% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lower Crystal Lake–Upper Crystal Lake, 6 sights
12.6 mi · ▲ 3,147 ft · 5 hr 46 min
Elevation 10,827–12,894 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: McCullough Tunnel Road · 39.40240, -106.07146
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 67°F / low 43° · precip 9% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
- Start on McCullough Tunnel Road, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Wheeler Trail, heading E.
- 2.9 miContinue straight onto Crystal Lake Road, heading N.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wheeler Trail, heading NW.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Crystal Lake Road, heading NW.
- 0.9 miPass Lower Crystal Lake.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Crystal Trail, heading SW.
- 1.7 miPass Upper Crystal Lake.
- 50 ftReach Lower Crystal Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miTurn left onto Crystal Lake Road, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Wheeler Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Crystal Lake Road, heading S.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Wheeler Trail, heading SW.
- 2.9 miBear left onto McCullough Tunnel Road, heading SW.
- 0.1 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
More from McCullough Tunnel Road Trailhead
- Lower McCullough Gulch Road 2.2 mi · ▲ 571 ft
- Mayflower Lakes–McCullough Tunnel Road, 4 sights 6.4 mi · ▲ 1,531 ft
- Maggie Pond–Crystal Lake Road, 4 sights 15.3 mi · ▲ 3,133 ft
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