Upper Cataract Lake Colorado Hike Guide

August 14, 2023 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

Upper Cataract Lake is a high alpine lake located in the Gore Range of Colorado. This lake is a great spot for a trail run, longer hike or shorter backpacking trip. The hike begins from the Surprise Trailhead about 25 minutes North of Silverthorne, Colorado. Upper Cataract Lake is located next to its much more popular lower version but still sees a lot of hiker traffic during summer months. This entire hike is located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness area.

Upper Cataract Lake Hike Pictures — A very happy girl.

Upper Cataract Lake Hike Guide

Upper Cataract Lake Rating: ★★★ (3/5 Stars)

Distance: 11 Miles RT

Elevation Start: 8,586ft

High Point: 10,756ft

Total Elevation Gain: 2,850ft

Estimated Time to Complete: 4-6 Hours RT

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult What does this mean?

Class: Class 1 – What does this mean?

Season: June – October

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Directions to Upper Cataract Lake Hike Guide

Trailhead: Surprise Trailhead

Getting Here: From Silverthorne, drive north on Colorado Highway 9 for 16 miles. After 16 miles, turn left onto Heeney Road and continue on for 5.5 miles. Next, look for Forest Road 1725 (sharp left turn) and continue straight on this road until you reach the trailhead about 1.75 miles. The Forest Road is dirt, but does not require any special vehicle to access the trailhead. Note that you can park at both the Surprise Trailhead and Lower Cataract Lake trailhead.

Parking: Both the Surprise Lake and Lower Cataract Lake parking lots are very busy. Between the two lots, they can fit about 40 vehicles and will fill up during most summer and fall weekends. Not only is this spot popular for day hikers, but many backpack in this area as well. However, on weekends, your best bet for a spot is earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Fee: None

Summary

Dogs: This is absolutely a dog friendly hike, but since it is a Wilderness Area, please keep your dog on a leash.

Camping: The majority of people who hike Upper Cataract Lake with the plan of camping will make this a short backpacking trip by camping around the lake itself. There are several dispersed camping areas around the lake but please follow Leave No Trace and use existing campsites. In addition, always follow the Forest Service recommended guidelines for dispersed camping.

Hike Xfactor(s): If you happen to see some cows grazing near the trail, don’t be alarmed as a lot of the start of this hike borders farmland and open pastures are quite common.

Hike Tip(s): For those who are backpacking, be advised that camping around the lake can be very popular. If looking for a bigger loop, there are several options to make this hike more than 11 miles and turn into a multi-night outing depending on how many miles you are looking to tackle.

Best Views: I knocked this hike a bit because for the vast majority of the 11 miles, you are under the trees. Some find beauty in this, but for me, I enjoy the spanning mountain views. As you get near the lake there are several beautiful vistas and of course the views at Upper Cataract Lake make the entire 5.5 miles worth it. While this hike does have some wildflowers and foliage, I wouldn’t consider either a strength.