Island Lake via Ice Lakes Trail

Featuring some rugged mountain terrain and a good amount of elevation gain, the Island Lake via Ice Lakes Trail is a challenging, yet extremely popular, hiking route that will require some experience and fitness to traverse. Be sure to wear proper hiking boots to better navigate the trail. Additionally, you should observe leave no trace practices in order to protect the fragile landscape and ecosystem of this alpine area.

Although there will certainly be plenty of other hikers along the trail, this is a wonderfully scenic trail that you won’t want to miss out on. The dramatic peaks of the San Juan Mountains and the turquoise waters of the various lakes in the Upper Ice Lakes Basin offer plenty of stunning scenery to look at, and the route itself features the perfect amount of difficulty to make it all feel like a supremely rewarding adventure.

Setting out from the trailhead across the road from the South Mineral Campground, you will make your way to the northwest and enter into the dense cover of the forest. Here, you will work your way through the woodland landscape for 0.7mi, crossing over Clear Creek and traversing a series of switchbacks along the trail in order to arrive at Clear Creek Falls. Take some time here to experience the majesty of the waterfall, before continuing along the trail to the west.

Here, you will arrive at a junction in the trail after 1.0mi of hiking through tree cover and scenic meadows, at which point, you will take the path on the right. Keeping left along the trail over the next 1.5mi, you will continue to climb uphill into the San Juan Mountains, taking in the beautiful alpine scenery as you work your way through the Lower Ice Lake Basin on the way to another junction in the trail.

Taking the path on the right, you will pass by the shores of Ice Lake and continue gaining elevation through some rugged mountain terrain, eventually arriving at the wonderfully scenic shores of Island Lake. Take some time here to enjoy the breathtaking alpine views of the surrounding peaks and the turquoise waters of the lake with its small island in the center, before turning back along the trail for the return back into the trailhead where you began your adventure on the Island Lake via Ice Lakes Trail.

Trail Highlights

Ice Lakes Upper Basin

Situated in an alpine setting close to the town of Silverton, Colorado, the Ice Lakes Upper Basin contains a series of stunning alpine lakes with strikingly blue water. The Ice, Fuller, Island, and Clear lakes are surrounded by several rugged peaks within the San Juan Mountains, making them an extremely popular outdoor destination thanks to the great hiking trail to reach them and the beautiful views. Due to this popularity, it is critical that hikers follow leave no trace practices to help maintain the natural beauty and integrity of the ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is swimming in Ice Lake allowed?

While the water will be cold, hikers can take a refreshing swim in the waters of Ice Lake.

Are there fish in Ice Lake?

The crystal clear waters of Ice Lake make it one of the most beautiful in all of Colorado, and it is so clear that you can see the fish swimming several meters below the chilly surface of the water.