At a Glance
- Distance: ~8 miles round trip
- Elevation Gain: 2,000+ ft
- Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
- Season: July – September
- Lakes: 3 alpine lakes
- Wilderness: Mt. Sneffels Wilderness
Three Lakes Below the Sneffels Range
The Blue Lakes Trail accesses three alpine lakes set in the glacial terrain below Mt. Sneffels and the surrounding peaks of the Sneffels Range. The lakes themselves — Lower, Middle, and Upper Blue Lakes — are fed by snowmelt and glacial runoff and have the deep turquoise color characteristic of high-alpine water with minimal sediment. The upper lake sits in a rocky amphitheater surrounded by thousand-foot walls.
The trail gains significant elevation over its length, and the upper sections involve rocky scrambling that requires sure footing and appropriate footwear. The payoff is commensurate — the Upper Blue Lake cirque is one of the most dramatic alpine environments in Colorado and receives far fewer visitors than more accessible destinations.
Getting to the Trailhead from Ouray
The Blue Lakes trailhead is accessed via East Dallas Creek Road from Highway 62 near Ridgway — approximately 15–20 minutes from The Lumberyard. The drive takes you through the Dallas Creek drainage with views of the Sneffels Range building as you go. Trailhead parking fills by mid-morning on summer weekends; arriving early is recommended.
Blue Lakes is an excellent choice for the second or third day of an Ouray trip — a full-day hiking commitment with enough trail variety to remain interesting throughout. Bring extra layers; even mid-summer temperatures at 13,000 feet can drop significantly when clouds move in.