Meridian Lake (Long Lake) Crested Butte Hike Guide
Meridian Lake (Long Lake) is a short out and back hike located just outside of Crested Butte, Colorado. This is a family friendly hike and one that can be done year round with relatively little extra experience or gear. There are two different trailheads to access this hike, but as of 2021, the best way to start would be south of the lake. The hike starts in a residential area, but quickly works away from private land and into a beautiful, well, long lake. There is a lot of private land around this area, so be sure to respect all signage.
Meridian Lake (Long Lake) Colorado Quick Facts
Meridian Lake (Long Lake) Rating: ★★ (⅖ Stars)
Distance: 2 – 2.6 Miles RT (Depending on how long you walk along the lakeshore)
Elevation Start: 9,400ft
Lake Elevation: 9,645ft
Total Elevation Gain: 411ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 1 to 1.5 Hours RT
Difficulty: Walk in the Park What does this mean?
Class: Class 1- What does this mean?
Season: Year Round – Expect snow December – May
Directions to Meridian Lake (Long Lake)
Trailhead: Washington Gulch Road
Getting Here: In between Crested Butte and Crested Butte Mountain Resort take CO Road 811 /Washington Gulch Road for 1.7 miles until you reach a small parking area on your left. To start the hike, cross the dam and follow the Pristine Pt Dr to the left where the hike starts just past a small gate that is closed.
Parking: There is a small parking area that fits about 5-10 cars with no restrooms. This lot usually will not be full unless it’s a busy summer weekend.
Fee: There is no fee for this hike as of 2021.
Summary
Dogs: Meridian Lake (Long Lake) is a dog friendly hike, but since the area works through a lot of private land, be sure to keep them on a leash and always pick-up after them.
Camping: There is no camping along this hike since it’s mostly in a residential area, it’s best to seek alternative spots to camp.
Make it a Loop: This is an out and back hike. However, you can add distance to this hike by hiking along the shore of the Lake. If you are looking for another short hike in the area, check out Judd Falls.
Meridian Lake (Long Lake) Hike Route
Trail X Factors: Private Land & Year Round Hiking
A lot of the hike for Meridian Lake (Long Lake) either crosses through or hikes around Private Land. Besides being respectful of these boundaries in the present, I do worry about the long term effect these pieces of land will have on the ability for this hike to stay open in the future.
What is great about Long Lake though is the ability to do a hike; albeit short, year round. For many spots in or near Crested Butte, snow moving in means limited hiking. However, this one would be a good spot in the summer months or after a long day on the slopes during the winter.
Best Views: In all honesty, the views on this one are just okay. My favorite are actually right at the start of the hike where you can look behind you and see Mt Crested Butte. At the lake itself, if you go towards the very end or closer to the shore – you can get some neat angles of this unique looking lake.
Gear Needed
- Men’s Trail Runners
- Women’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Booths (Women’s)
- Backpack
- Food & Water
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: Camera and Lens
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod
- *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.
Our Trip to Meridian Lake (Long Lake): October 2021
Jackie, Juno and I wanted to tackle another hike during our shoulder season trip to Crested Butte. After hiking Judd Falls and Green Lake the days before, we thought Long Lake would be a perfect addition before we hit the road. There was some confusion on finding the start TH at first, but we quickly figured it out and started the hike.
The hiking was very easy and short to get up to the shore of this unique looking lake. We explored the shore, took some pictures and just soaked in the beautiful fall day. Overall, I wouldn’t say that Meridian Lake (Long Lake) is a destination hike, but certainly one that is a good spot to add to your trip to Crested Butte or a great place to walk your dog.
