Blue Lakes Trip Planning

Distance, Round Trip: 6.5 miles to Lower Blue Lake & 9 miles to Blue Lakes Pass

Elevation Gain to lower lake from north TH: 1,680 ft

Elevation gain to Blue Lakes Pass from north TH: 3,800 ft

Start Elevation at north TH: 9,360 ft

Elevation at Lower Blue Lake: 10,920 ft

Elevation at Middle Blue Lake: 11,520 ft

Elevation at Upper Blue Lake: 12,392 ft

Elevation at Blue Lakes Pass: 13,000 ft

The Blue Lakes trail (#201) begins at the Blue Lakes Trailhead on Forest Service Road #851.1. After passing through a gate, the trail reaches a “Y” at approximately 0.14 miles. Continue to the right to follow the Blue Lakes trail. Please sign in at the trail register. This is for your safety as well as potentially increasing funding to maintain the trail and provide education to trail users. The trail ascends through a forest of spruce/fir and reaches the Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundary in approximately 1.4 miles, where Wilderness Regulations apply. It passes through meadows that provide spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. At approximately 3.2 miles, the trail reaches the Lower Blue Lake where fishing for cutthroat trout can be good. The trail continues southeast and then east to a series of steep switchbacks leading past Middle and upper Blue Lakes and onto to Blue Lake Pass, at 13,000 feet, which is reached in approximately 4.5 miles. If you descend south off the pass, the trail leaves the wilderness and in approximately 0.7 more miles you will come to the Yankee Boy Basin / Wright’s Lake Trailhead.

The lakes and pass are normally snow-free from late June to mid September. The official trail goes over Blue Lakes Pass to Yankee Boy Basin. All routes to the summit of Mt Sneffels are unmaintained and hiker discretion is strongly advised. For more information, check out 14ers.com.

*Drones are PROHIBITED in all Wilderness areas. Please leave your drone at home when visiting Blue Lakes (located within Mount Sneffels Wilderness). Fines over $500.

*Campfires are PROHIBITED in the Blue Lakes-Dallas Creek drainage. Please bring a camp stove instead.  Review the map of the prohibited area.

Trail Tips to Minimize Impact

• DO NOT LITTER
  • Don’t leave your dog poop bag! This is one of the biggest issues in the area. Temporarily littering is still littering, and your actions signal to others that it’s OK to do so. The cumulative effect of multiple poop bags not only degrades the hiking experience for your fellow trail users, but also degrades the environment. Unlike the scat of native wildlife, dog feces can introduce harmful bacteria, parasites, and excess nutrients into the environment. This can lead to water pollution, affect local plant life, and potentially harm native animal species.
  • Packing out all trash, including orange peels, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products.
• STAY ON THE TRAIL
  • Trail braiding (unsightly web of trails) occurs when visitors avoid seasonal mud and snow or the occasional downed tree by walking around the obstructions, therefore trampling vegetation. Wear footwear that you don’t mind getting muddy or wet.
  • Do not cut switchbacks to avoid trail erosion (or even a ticket from a Ranger!)
  • When yielding to others, look for a good rocky surface just off the trail.
• LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
  • Wildflowers wilt quickly, and picking them can reduce the plant’s ability to produce much needed seeds for next year. Plus our pollinators and various forest creatures depend on them, too! 
  • Do not disturb or remove any of the historical artifacts in the area.
• RESPECT WILDLIFE 
  • Do not feed wildlife. This is not limited to directly feeding the little critters like chipmunks, pikas, and birds, but also not storing your food properly and littering.
  • Dogs must be on a leash or under direct voice control at all times. Voice control means that if off-leash, your dog is within a few feet of you, always in your sight, and immediately returns when called – even if taunted by a chipmunk. Dogs not under control can be injured by wildlife, particularly porcupine and moose. They can also frighten or injure wildlife, disturb other forest visitors, and create negative impacts on the natural resources.
• Review and follow the seven Leave No Trace principles to minimize your environmental impact.

Proper Disposal of Human Waste

Recently, samples from Blue Lakes tested positive for dangerous levels of E. coli. This is evidence of improper disposal of human waste around the Blue Lakes area. It’s unbelievable, but some people actually just poop on the ground and leave their toilet paper in a heap on top of it. Others put rocks or sticks on top of their deposit. Some bury their poop and TP in a cathole, but don’t dig the hole deep enough to properly cover it. Animals dig up catholes and bring the alluringly stinky contents to the surface, oftentimes spreading human feces around your campsite with their paws. Can you imagine the impact that all of these issues have on the next visitor? Gross!!

• Dig a cathole. The Leave No Trace practice for proper disposal of human waste is to bury one’s poop in a 6-8″ deep cathole at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails.
• Pack out the toilet paper and hygiene products.
• Below tree line, consider using a Pact Kit, an all-in-one backroom kit which includes the toilet paper and fast break-down tablets.
• Use a human waste bag. Yes, that means to carry out your poop as well as your TP and hygiene products.
  • Check out our human waste bag page for helpful videos on how to pack and how to use these bags.
  • These bags are easy to use – easier than digging a cathole – and one bag per person has sufficient capacity for a multi-day trip.
  • Do not put the waste bag in toilet at the trailhead!

There are two access points for the Blue Lakes trail, both within the Ouray Ranger District of the Uncompahgre National Forest.  The north access point, Blue Lakes Trailhead, is located Southwest of Ridgway, Colorado and begins at the end of County Road 7 at 9,342 feet (Latitude: N38.036, Longitude: W-107.807). The less popular south access point, Yankee Boy/Wright’s Lake Trailhead, is located up the 4×4 Yankee Boy Basin Rd at 12,440 feet (Latitude: N38.995, Longitude: W-107.785).  

Blue Lakes Trailhead, northern access point

From the center of Ouray, travel north on Hwy 550 for approximately 10 miles to the intersection with Hwy 62 in Ridgway. Turn left (west) on Highway 62 and continue for approximately 4.8 miles to the intersection with County Road 7, East Dallas Creek.  Follow CR 7 for approximately 2 miles to the intersection with CR-7A, stay to the right. Continue on CR 7 for approximately a total of 9 miles to the parking area at the trailhead. The last two miles can be challenging for low clearance vehicles. Please respect private land, there is no camping until you reach the National Forest Boundary.

• A high clearance vehicle is recommended. 
• During periods of heavy rain, the road can become impassable to all vehicles. 
• Camping: Dispersed camping is allowed on only the last 2 miles of the road along the National Forest. Sites go quickly so make sure you have a backup plan for accommodations. 
  • Use existing, impacted sites. 
  • Camp more than 100 feet from streams and lakes (approximately 37 adult steps).
  • Do not create new sites or fire rings.  
  • Campfires are only allowed north of the trailhead. Please observe local fire restrictions and never leave fires or hot coals unattended. 
• Parking lot fills very quickly during the summer months. Plan ahead!
  • Do not park illegally, double park other visitors, or increase ecological damage by parking on surrounding vegetation.
  • If you park along the roadway, leave enough space for emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks to pass!
• Toilets: There is a pit toilet at the trailhead. PLEASE, do not dump trash down the toilet! Pro tip! Always carry a spare roll of TP and hand sanitizer in your vehicle when heading out to remote Forest toilets, just in case.
• Trash: There are no trash containers at the trailhead. Be prepared to pack out ALL your trash.
• Water: There is no potable water at the trailhead. Purification recommended.

Yankee Boy / Wright’s Lake Trailhead, southern access point

From Ouray, travel south on Hwy 550 for approximately 0.3 miles to the intersection with County Road 361, Camp Bird Road. Turn right onto CR 361 and follow it for approximately 9.2 miles to its end, CR 361 becomes CR 26 and then Forest Service Road 853.1B before reaching the Trailhead. 

• A high clearance vehicle is recommended. 
• During periods of heavy rain, the road can become impassable to all vehicles. 
• Camping: There are both campgrounds and dispersed camping near southern access point: 
  • Amphitheater Campground is located on the side of a mountain above Ouray, CO. 
  • Angel Creek Campground is a primitive campground requiring high clearance vehicles. The area is not designed for trailer campers. 
  • Thistledown Campground is located approximately 2.6 miles along Camp Bird Road.
  • Dispersed camping is allowed on National Forest land along the roads to the trailheads. Please review the Motor Vehicle Use Maps to ensure you know the difference between National Forest land and private land.
• Toilet: There are no toilets at the trailhead. 
• Trash: There are no trash containers at the trailhead. Be prepared to pack out ALL your trash.
• Water: There is no potable water at the trailhead. Purification is recommended.

If you live in the area, consider volunteering at our Blue Lakes Trailhead Basecamp. Help us reduce human impacts to the spectacular Blue Lakes and Mount Sneffels area by encouraging visitors to stay on designated trails, pack-out all waste, respect fire restrictions, and adhere to Leave No Trace Principles.  Contact SJMA’s Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@sjma.org to find out more about the training and how to apply.

If you are a visitor, you can still help by doing your part to protect this natural beauty for all generations by following simple steps to reduce your impact. See the Trail Tips Section above and/or review our Reduce Your Impact webpage.