Lone Eagle Peak Hike

The Lone Eagle Peak hike starts out at Monarch Lake Trailhead via Cascade Creek Trail. The trail follows along the north side of Monarch Lake until it veers up along Buchanan Creek.

The trail gains elevation on moderate switchbacks for a while, and then it’ll begin to follow Cascade Creek. After crossing a wooden bridge, you are met with the first of many beautiful waterfalls.

Continuing along the Lone Eagle Peak trail, you gain additional elevation as the valley opens up to reveal breathtaking views of the mountain range as well as multiple waterfalls. Cascade Falls is the largest waterfall on this hike and is comprised of four separate waterfalls!

After Cascade Falls, the trail comes to a junction and a trail marker; continue onto Crater Lake Trail. A final push up steep switchbacks places you directly in front of Lone Eagle Peak and Mirror Lake. This is one of the most scenic views in all of Colorado. For an added bonus, located further up the trail is Crater Lake (a large glacier-fed alpine lake with a stunning waterfall in the far corner). Fair Glacier is to the lake’s left and Peck Glacier is to the right.

Our map takes you as far as Mirror Lake, and for most people, this is a good place to turn around.

If you feel adventurous, the Lone Eagle Peak hike is a long and rugged trail. Cairns are used to mark the trail when traveling over rugged, rocky sections. The hike is not technical, but the length and elevation gain make it a challenge for even seasoned hikers.

When you are finished, you can head back the way you came in.

Hiking Trail Highlights

Lone Eagle Peak

Lone Eagle Peak is part of the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, south of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. While it isn’t among the tallest of the peaks in this region, at 11,940 ft (3,640 m), its unique shape and rugged granite face make it a dominant feature in the skyline of this remote area. In a state that does not lack for breathtaking mountains, many of which are taller than 14,000 ft (4,267 m), it is notable that Lone Eagle Peak has been called Colorado’s most picturesque mountain.

When the summit was first reached in 1930, the mountain was called Lindbergh Peak, which may be related to aviator Charles Lindbergh’s first solo transatlantic flight in 1927. The name was later changed to Lone Eagle Peak, after one of Lindbergh’s nicknames, “The Lone Eagle.”

A stunning Lone Eagle Peak is one of the Indian Peaks of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. With the height of 11,946 ft (3,641 m), the peak is dominating the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Arapaho National Forest. The nearest town to the peak is Frasier in Grand County, Colorado, some 12.4 mi (19.9 km) away. The mountain was named in honor of aviator Charles Lindbergh who was often called a ‘lone eagle.’ The best time to hike this trail is from June until September.

Mirror Lake, Colorado

Visitors to Mirror Lake, Colorado, have little doubt as to how this stunning body of water received its name. If Lone Eagle Peak is Colorado’s most picturesque mountain, then a lake that is perfectly positioned to fully reflect this peak is well-worth the hike. You may want to plan your lunch or snack break for the shores of Mirror Lake to give yourself time to fully enjoy the view.

Crater Lake, Indian Peaks

Just a short distance from Mirror Lake is the beautiful Crater Lake. Not to be confused with the famous Crater Lake in Oregon, or any of the other lakes with the same name, Crater Lake in Indian Peaks is a bowl-shaped lake that also offers spectacular views of Lone Eagle Peak. There are campsites available here (permit required) for those who want to break up their hike over two days, allowing time to see how the changing sun angles change the appearance of Lone Eagle Peak, or perhaps to spend time fishing in Crater Lake.

If you want to find other great hikes in Indian Peaks Wilderness, check out the Lake Isabelle trail, Rainbow Lakes trail or the Arapaho Glacier Trail.