Carly W.
Sep 19, 2022
Questions people ask at the beginning of every hike:++ Is it long?! YES.++ Is it going to be hard? YES, The best things always are.++ Is it going to be worth it? ABSOLUTELY!!Chihuahua Lake was no exception. After Matt C posted some pictures of this alpine beauty, I just knew I had to go there this season. So when my hiking companion Tiffany N and I both ended up with a Monday off, I knew just the adventure to be had. So we grabbed our gear, some coffee, and took to the mountains.Located just east of Keystone, Chihuahua Lake makes for a challenging day trip. From the 2WD trailhead, you can anticipate approximately an 8-mile round-trip hike. I highly recommend a high clearance vehicle to get there. The road is super bumpy. If you park towards the bottom of the road (which appears to be the staging area for OHVs) you will be adding roughly 4 miles total to the trip. We arrived at 9:30am and there were only two cars parked at the 2WD trailhead, however there's only enough parking for maybe four cars there. So be early. There are two major steep areas - one long steady one in the beginning and one brutal final push just before the lake. There were several water crossings, so make sure to wear waterproof boots and bring extra socks, just in case. It's not a matter of if you end up in the water, but when you end up in the water. We encountered maybe five people during our hike and had the lake to ourselves for a solid 30 to 45 minutes while we snacked and relaxed. Chihuahua Lake was gorgeous! You work for it, that's for sure, but the views are out of this world! Chihuahua Lake was definitely a rewarding way to spend our day. While at the end of the hike I felt personally victimized by the trail, I can safely say I'll probably make my way back next season. **Pro Tip: Some parts of the trail are not marked the best, especially once you get to the 4WD trailhead. Download the trail off AllTrails before you hit the dirt to ensure you don't get turned around.
Read MoreTiffany N.
Sep 25, 2022
See Carly W's review. K thx bye.JK, although I felt like Chihuahua Lake owned me, I cannot give it enough kudos! This is one of those trails that is a hidden gem and I kinda hope it stays that way. I hike a lot and love some moderate hikes but this was one of the hardest I've done in awhile. The first stretch is steep and will have you questioning if it was worth driving up the bumpy road and possibly damaging your suspension if you're not blessed enough to have AWD or 4WD. Then you cross the first of many creeks and get a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains and then something clicks in your head (besides the "Hills are alive with the sound of musiiiiiiiic")....views like the ones you see on this hike are the reason visit and move here!You won't see a lot of people on this hike and it's much welcomed, this is truly a lesser known trail and when you get to the lake, you will say "Ay chihuahua!" I think we saw five to six people the entire time, it was awesome and how I wish more hikes within driving distance of Denver were! The only animals we saw were birds, chipmunks, pika and bugs.....nothing too scary!Must Haves for this hike-Extra pair or two of socks, I don't care how waterproof your shoes are, they WILL get wet!-Poles. I NEVER bring my poles and I'm so grateful I brought them and used them on all eight plus miles of this hike!-A plethora of snacks-A positive attitude, you're going to need it!
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