Empire Area

The West Clear Creek Valley above Empire hides two paddle spots that are fairly close to Denver but less busy than other lakes of similar proximity.  Upper Urad and Hassell Lakes are at the top of Woods Creek basin, beyond the disturbances of Henderson and Urad mines.  The valley of Woods Creek can be clearly seen from the descent of Berthoud Pass toward Empire.  The valley's massive tailings flats and unnatural appearance do not give an inviting impression.  But for those who persevere past all the mining operations are rewarded with some surprisingly pleasant mountain waters.  If the thought of a pre-dawn departure or timed-entry permit in the Indian Peaks area causes anxiety, Upper Urad or Hassell might be good alternatives.  

Hassell Lake

The turn-off to Upper Urad and Hassell is 8 miles west of Empire on U.S. 40.  It is just before the first hairpin turn at the base of Berthoud Pass.  Woods Creek Road is a prominent left turn 0.4 miles from U.S. 40.  The parking area for Upper Urad Lake and the Hassell Trailhead is at the end of the road, 3.0 miles further up Woods Creek.  The road is not open all the way to Upper Urad Lake; a 300 yard walk up and around the dam is necessary to get to the water.  

Vicinity Map

    Location info: [key]

    (Upper Urad / Hassell)

    Scenery: 3 / 4
    Shoreline Interest: 2 / 2
    Use: Low-moderate
    Fee: None
    Access: 2WD Dirt 

    (+ 1.8 mi. hike for Hassell)
    Full elev = 10700 / 11350
    Weather 

Upper Urad Lake

Upper Urad's dam is the top tier in a series of embankments that stair-step up the Woods Creek Valley.  After passing the mine's containment ponds and tailings flats below, the blue waters of Upper Urad Lake might be an unexpected surprise.  The administration of this site is a bit convoluted.  The lakeshore and surrounding land are owned by Climax Molybdenum.  The water in the lake is owned by the City of Golden.  Since 2014, the recreational use of the lake has been managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as the Urad State Wildlife Area (SWA).  

Upper Urad Lake

Recreating within a state wildlife area requires a valid Colorado hunting of fishing license, or an SWA Pass.  However, new SWA regulations from August 2023 only permit watercraft for the purposes of fishing--not for solely recreational use.  To make matters more confusing, Urad State Wildlife area is conspicuously absent from the SWA map on the state parks website.  But the parking area is clearly marked with an informational sign for Urad State Wildlife Area.  A paddleboard or other hand-propelled craft can be an exciting way to fish Upper Urad Lake.  But if you're not looking to drop a line, it's probably best to plan for the short, steep hike up to Hassell.  

Hassell Lake

Hassell Lake Panorama

Hassell Lake is not the best-known mountain lake in the high country west of Denver, and that probably moderates its visitation.  It receives far less hiking pressure than Herman Lake, which is only 2.5 miles southwest as has comparable travel time from Denver.  Unlike Upper Urad, Hassell Lake is in the national forest.  Access to Hassell through the Climax property and the state wildlife area is afforded from June through October and does not require any passes or permits.   

The hike to Hassel Lake follows the road for 0.8 miles around the west end of Upper Urad Lake, then a trail for 1.0 miles up to a perched basin.  The road portion of the hike is mostly flat but the trail segment gains considerable elevation.  In particular, the middle third of the trail is very steep, and may be quite challenging while packing in a paddleboard.  As a tradeoff, the Hassell Lake trail has some nice vistas of the valley below.    

Hassell Lake Trail

Hassell Lake,
Continental Divide beyond

Hassell Lake's waters are a nice place to float on a warm summer day.  The surrounding mountains aren't as dramatic as those found in the Indian Peaks or James Peak Wildernesses further north, but they still form a very pleasant sub-alpine basin.  Hassell Lake is small enough that is doesn't get excessively choppy if a breeze picks up.  A more important weather consideration is the probability of afternoon thunderstorms.  The continental divide is immediately west and largely blocks the view in incoming storms.  Lighting can appear quickly in Hassell's high mountain basin, and even the trail up has segments of exposure to electrical storms.  Check the hourly forecast before committing an afternoon.  

Hassell Lake

Both Upper Urad and Hassell Lakes are great high-elevation paddleboarding opportunities that are fairly close to Denver.  They're nice options if you have a late start on a busy summer weekend.  Have fun and stay safe!