Mirror Lake & Crater Lake Colorado Hike Guide
Mirror Lake & Crater Lake are a pair of alpine lakes located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Northern Colorado. These lakes are famous due to the striking mountain, Lone Eagle Peak, which sits behind them. In order to get to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake a long hike, trail run or backpacking trip is required. While there are two approaches to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake, this guide will focus on the West, Cascade Creek/Monarch Lake, approach which does not require a reservation.
Mirror Lake & Crater Lake Quick Facts
Mirror Lake & Crater Lake Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Virtual Trail Guide: Mirror Lake & Crater Lake
Distance: 16.5 Miles Total
Elevation Start: 8,351ft
High Point: 10,345ft (Crater Lake)
Total Elevation Gain: 2,700ft
Estimated Time to Complete: 10-12 Hour Hike, 3-5 Hour Trail Run, 2 Day Backpack
Difficulty: Difficult- What does this mean?
Class: Class 2 – What does this mean?
Season: June – October: Expect snow outside of these months
Crowds: Low
Directions to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake
Trailhead: Mist Trail and John Muir Trailhead (Shuttle Stop 16)
Getting Here: There are two main ways to get to the start of the Mist Trail hike: parking at the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking Lot (allegedly reserved for backpacking permits – but did not see enforcement of that) and using the free Yosemite Shuttle and getting off at stop 16. Either way works but the shuttle option saves you about a mile of additional hiking (roundtrip).
Parking: The closest option to park for Mist Trail is at the Yosemite Valley Trailhead Parking lot. It’s about a half mile away from here to the Mist Trail hike start. There are no restrooms here but there are some at the trailhead. This lot can fit about 50-75 vehicles and will absolutely fill up on most weekends and busy periods in the park (around holidays especially). There are of course other lots in Yosemite to park at but this is the closest option.
Park Shuttle: Shuttle stop 16 provides access to the Mist Trail and John Muir trail as well. The shuttle runs from 7AM to 10PM so just keep that in mind if you plan on using it.
Permits/Fee: There is a $5 fee you must pay to access Mirror and Crater Lake for day use. Permits are required for backpacking which are an additional $11.
Permits: A permit is required to camp near Crater Lake June 1st – September 15th each year. In order to purchase one, use this link, enter your group size, start date and then select West of Continental Divide and then scroll down to Crater Lake and select your group size.
Summary
Dogs: This is a dog friendly trail but it is in a Wilderness Area, along with being notorious for having lots of moose. Please for the safety of your dog, keep it leashed at all times.
Camping: Backcountry camping is possible along the trail but a permit is required. You will need to either have a Cascade Creek (if not camping at the lake) or Crater Lake permit. Information on how to obtain one of those can be found above. In addition to backcountry camping there is a nearby campground, Arapaho Bay and more elevated lodging at Arapaho Valley Ranch.
Water: Water is plentiful along this route – you should never need to carry more than a liter.
Make it a Loop: There are endless options to extend a trip to Mirror Lake and Crater Lake, the most popular would be: adding Lone Eagle Peak or going up to Buchanan Pass or Pawnee Pass. Any additional options you decide to do turn this day into 20+ miles.
Hike Tip(s): Flowers, Waterfalls, Reflection on Lake
If you want your best chance to see wildflowers, head to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake in the early Summer (early July) as it will also be the time when the waterfalls and cascades are the best. There will never be a “bad” time to but I feel this is the best.
Mirror Lake gets its name due to the reflection of Lone Eagle Peak that happens on the water. For your best chance to get this view – pick a day that is windless and shoot for early morning or late afternoon for your best chance at the reflection photo.
Trail X Factors: Moose & Bugs
There is a lot of water along the trail to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake. This means that moose love this area and mosquitoes love this area. If you see a moose, give them plenty of space especially in the early Summer (calving season) or Fall (mating season). You do not want to get close to a moose during these times. If traveling to these lakes in the Summer, be sure to bring lots of bug repellent as the bugs can be quite bad, especially if there is a windless day.
Best Views: The trail to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake is truly one of the best I have ever been on, especially in Colorado. This is a gem of a hike and the views are great from start to finish.
Gear Needed
- Men’s Trail Runners
- La Sportiva Cyklon
- La Sportiva Trango Hiking Boots (Men’s)
- Running Vest
- Running Vest Larger
- Backpack (Winter)
- Backpack (Summer)
- Sunglasses
- Base Layers
- T Shirt
- Mid Layer
- Rain Jacket / Shell
- Pants
- Shorts
- Socks
- Food & Water
- Optional: Water Filter
- Optional: Garmin inReach
- Optional: Hiking Poles – 120CM
- Optional: Headlamp
- Optional: Garmin Fenix Watch
- Optional: GoPro, Joby Tripod, Selfie Stick, GoPro Max 2 , Drone, Insta360
- *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.