Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike
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Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike
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The Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike is a long and difficult route in the San Juan Mountains that will take you through some rugged terrain to reach a series of charming lakes. While out hiking the trail, you will make your way through forests and over the rough terrain of Lime Mesa, before traversing alpine meadows on the way into the Ruby and Emeralds lakes. Hikers should take note that the road leading into the trailhead is fairly rugged/remote and will require a 4x4 vehicle to access.
Getting there
The trailhead for the Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike can be found at the Lime Mesa Trailhead, just 5.0mi northwest of Henderson Lake.
About
| Backcountry Campground | Ruby Lake |
| When to do | June-October |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Family friendly | No |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Low |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike
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Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike Description
While the Lime Mesa to Ruby Lake Hike can be done in a single day, it is an arduous journey and is most often broken up into a multi-day excursion. Even still, it offers a great chance to explore some of the wild terrain of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
Setting out from the trailhead, you will make your way to the northeast through meadows and some woodland terrain, before traversing the rugged Lime Mesa. From here, you will continue on to the northeast and climb further uphill, before making a brief descent to the shores of Ruby Lake.
After visiting this charming body of water, you can either set up camp for the night or continue on to the northeast if you are attempting to complete the route in a single day. Making your way through an alpine meadow, you will quickly arrive at the shores of Emerald Lake, which is a serene place to pause for a rest. From here, simply head back along the same route for the long return across Lime Mesa to the trailhead.
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