Hanging Lake

Hanging Lake is a marvel – fed by waterfalls, this shallow lake then acts like an endless pool as it then flows off a cliff side.

The hike is under three miles, out and back. However, the 1.5 miles one way is exclusively uphill, over more and more rocks. This is not for the faint of heart, unless you’re fine with taking a lot of breaks!

Here’s a view Glenwood Canyon as you climb up. There’s over 1,000 feet of elevation gained in the 1.5 miles up!

BUT, it is worth the effort to see the beautiful, iconic Hanging Lake in all its majesty!

There’s a well-built boardwalk on the lake’s perimeter, so you get to see it from a variety of angles:

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And then, just a short hike up from Hanging Lake is a second beautiful waterfall called “Spouting Rock.” You can understand its name once you get a good look at it!

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Due to the wear on this beautiful nature reserve, Hanging Lake now requires a permit in order to hike it. As of right now, the permits are $12 each and include a shuttle bus ride from Glenwood Springs to the trail head. For information about obtaining a permit, see the city of Glenwood Springs website.

We really liked the permit system – you got a quick lecture when picking the permit up about not feeding chipmunks, staying on the trail, all the things that should be common sense and, unfortunately, really aren’t. I think this is really helping to preserve this beauty!