Twin Lakes Area

Twin Lakes is a well-recognized Colorado landmark that sits beneath the lofty Sawatch Range at the eastern gateway to Independence Pass.  A mountain backdrop of Twin Peaks and Mt. Hope makes Twin Lakes a popular subject for landscape photographers, particularly during the autumn color change.  

Twin Lakes Vista

The Sawatch Range rises abruptly from the sagebrush uplands of the Arkansas Valley, through mixed conifer and aspen forests to the rocky tundra of Colorado's tallest peaks.  Mountain vistas like this are typical of the Upper Arkansas Valley, which also contains Clear Creek Reservoir and Turquoise Lake.  All three of these locations are easily accessible from U.S. 24, with only a few minutes gravel or dirt road driving from the highway.  As far as stand-up-paddle places go, the region's best attributes are the scenery, pleasant summertime temperatures, and a plethora of nearby camping and recreational opportunities.  A couple hours of paddleboard time can make a great addition to a camping, mountain biking or fourteener climbing trip in the area.  

Vicinity Map

Twin Lakes Location info: [key]

(East / Middle / West)

Scenery: 4 / 4 / 4
Shoreline Interest: 3 / 2 / 2
Use: Moderate-high / Mod. / Mod.
Fee: Varies
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 9190; water level
Rec. info: East / Middle / West
Weather 

(Scroll down for Clear Creek, Turquoise info)

Alice's Wonderland

Are you one of the millions of travelers who have zoomed past the Alice exit on Interstate 70 west of Denver?  Have you ever pulled off the highway and ventured up Fall River Road to see what lurks up-valley?  If you follow the right paths, you will discover that many small, fantastic lakes live in the heights of this basin.  The sub-alpine tarns in this fun little pocket of Colorado delight paddleboarders, hikers and off-roaders  alike, but all have some form of effort tax.  

A gem in the wonderland

Idyllic St. Mary's Lake is not vehicle-accessible, but can be reached by a moderately steep 0.5 mile hike up the popular St. Mary's Glacier Trail.  Chinns Lake and Loch Lomond are accessed by jeep roads further down in the valley.  Each of these have their own unique wonderland features.  Both Chinns and Lomond have multiple neighbors of similar character that can be accessed by foot or 4WD vehicle.  The routes to all of these lakes generally aren't open and snow-free until mid-July.  They make a great retreat in the late summertime when temperatures on the flatlands below push triple digits.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    

    (St. Marys / Chinns / Lomond)

    

    Scenery: 5 / 5 / 4 
    Shoreline Interest: 3 / 2 / 3
    Use: Moderate /  / Low-mod / Low-mod
    Fee: $5 parking / None / None
    Access: 0.6 mi. hike / 4WD / 4WD
    Full elev = 10750 / 11050 / 11200
    Weather

Tenmile Region

While Dillon Reservoir is the centerpiece of Summit County's paddleboard waters, there are more great places both downvalley (north) and upvalley (south).  This post features a few additional SUP opportunities in the Tenmile Creek area south of Frisco and Upper Blue River area south of Breckenridge.  

Clinton Gulch; Tenmile Range beyond

Two of these places--Officer's Gulch Pond and Clinton Gulch Reservoir--are ridiculously close to major highways.  A third--Lower Crystal Lake--can only be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicle or by foot.  These places might not have the all the attributes to top the favorites list, but they're all worthwhile considerations for paddleboarding excursions in Summit County.  

Vicinity Map

    Location Info: [key]

    (Officers / Clinton / Crystal)    

    

    Scenery: 4 / 3 / 3
    Shoreline Interest: 3 / 1 / 1
    Use: Mod / Mod / Low
    Fee: None
    Access: Paved / Paved / Mod 4WD
    Full elev = 9450 / 11080 / 11980
 

    Weather:

    Officer's

    Clinton

    Crystal

Pikes Peak North Slope

South Catamount, North Catamount and Crystal Creek Reservoirs are a cluster of three scenic lakes that are readily accessible from the Colorado Springs region.  These lakes all sit around 9,200 feet in elevation on the northern flank of Pikes Peak.  Together, they comprise the North Slope Recreation Area.  

South Catamount Reservoir

The North Slope is accessed from the Pikes Peak Highway and requires a $5/adult day pass to get through the entrance gate.  Children under 16 get in for free.  A limited number of free parking passes area also available to reserve online, but these may run out on busy days.  The North Slope day passes are labeled as "fishing" passes, but are good for all permitted water activities.  Fishing is not mandatory.  The North Slope recreation passes are separate from the timed entry reservations that are required to drive the full length of the Pikes Peak Highway.  They are not valid for access to the Pikes Peak summit.  

Vicinity Map

Location info: [key]

Forested reservoirs in Pikes Peak foothills
Scenery: 3
Shoreline Interest: 3 / 4 / 2

   (North / South / Crystal)
Use: Moderate
Fee: $5/adult; day pass required
Access: Gravel
Full elev = 9200+/-; Best near full
Rec. map 
Rec. info
Weather 

The legendary Axolotls of Lily Lake

Alright, they're not really axolotls and they're not legendary (yet), but they're still quite fascinating!  Our intrigue with these "axolotls" began at beautiful Lily Lake, just south of Estes Park.  Actually a part of Rocky Mountain National Park, Lily Lake is right next to the Peak-to-Peak with a great vista of Longs Peak, Mt. Meeker and Twin Sisters Mountain.  

The Danish cousins of Mexico's Axolotls

On a warm, mid-June paddle on Lily Lake, we noticed some small, bizarre-looking creatures swimming in the shallows of the lake only a few inches below the surface.  Then, upon paying closer attention, we realized there were hundreds--maybe thousands--of these amphibious animals within the lake.   They had four legs, a small tail, and six horn-like protrusions around their faces.  And we were baffled as to what these creatures could be.  

A beautiful June day on Lily Lake