HANGING LAKE
April 28, 1997
By Tim Briese
Hanging Lake is one of Colorado’s scenic treasures. It is located high up in a valley above the Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River in the west central part of the state. The trailhead is at the Hanging Lake rest area along I-70, and such easy access makes it a popular destination for thousands of visitors each year.
My daughter Emily and I were returning from a camping trip in Utah one day in late April and decided to stop and make the short side trip up to see this beautiful lake we had often heard about. From the parking area beside the interstate we walked about a quarter of a mile east on a paved bicycle path and then turned left and followed a well-marked trail up a wooded side canyon along Dead Horse Creek. The rocky trail climbed relentlessly upward, gaining a little over a thousand feet of elevation in the mile up to the lake. There were several other hikers on the trail joining us on this popular endeavor this morning. On the upper reaches of the trail we encountered some patches of snow lying in shady spots.
The trail steepened and climbed up through a cliffy area where we enjoyed a fine view back down into the valley below. There were some stone steps here and a metal handrail that offered protection above a fifty foot cliff that dropped away below. When we reached the top of this steep slope the terrain abruptly flattened out and we found ourselves standing on the shore of the beautiful lake. What a gorgeous sight it was! The lake was a bluish-green gem, perhaps 50 yards across, with the multiple cascades of Bridal Veil Falls pouring over a limestone cliff feeding its upper end. The clear, pure water of the lake harbored numerous trout that swam gracefully about amid colorful bright green masses of moss. A boardwalk was provided for hikers to walk around the south end of the lake so as to avoid damage to the delicate environment. People walked about slowly and spoke in hushed tones, as if in reverential awe in a mystically sacred place.
On another visit here in the summer of the following year, I noted that ferns and mosses thrived in the lush environment around the shore, especially in the spray near the waterfall. The Eden-like beauty reminded me of scenes from the television show “Fantasy Island.” The rich and colorful grandeur created a nearly tropical feel, almost out of place in a Colorado alpine setting.
From the west side of the lake Emily and I followed a short trail a few yards up to Spouting Rock, where another beautiful waterfall has cut a hole through solid rock. At the base of the waterfall was a massive cone of ice formed from the freezing of the fall’s spray at this time of year.
After a few minutes we left this remarkable place and made the easy descent back down the trail. The entire outing took about two hours. It was well worth the effort, too, for we were both touched by the special charm of this place that we will not soon forget.
