It could be made into a loop with nearby trails but I wanted to avoid walking past more meadow/marshy area for reasons stated latter in this post. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September. Gem Lake Trail is a 3.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. We lucked out and had the lake to ourselves, and we’d find out why when we got back to cell phone reception. Explore the best trails in Gem Lake, Minnesota on TrailLink. The largest of the three Gem Lakes had a brilliant aquamarine color and would be our home for the next 2 nights. We arrived at the trailhead around noon on a Monday. I definitely pushed myself to the extreme, but absolutely loved it! After that, the trail is less steep and with uphill and downhill sections. I passed out 6 groups and 3 didn’t wear masks. stunning Gem Lake. Gem Lake Loop, Emigrant Wilderness The fires last September squashed our original plans of hiking the Thousand Island Lake loop, so I spent hours trying to find a last minute, not smokey/not on fire backpacking trip that my mom, my aunt and I … I looked back behind me while watching the sunrise and saw smoke heading our way. Length 3.4 miElevation gain 990 ftRoute type Out & back This is a moderate loop trail to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. They must have had a really terrific guide! It is a very scenic trail that goes through varying terrains from meadows to marshes to aspen and conifer groves. short section of the PCT that I’d skipped. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail metrics. And in that moment, among the trees of the Boreal forest and along the edge of a gem lake, I feel like I am twinkling and glittering too. This trail goes by Gem Lake Trailhead. This trail goes by Camp Lake, Lily Lake, Piute Lake Campground, Piute Lake, Gem Lake, No Camping, Grouse Lake, and Crabtree Camp. Discover trails like Gem Lake Loop Trail Colorado, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. The lake is underwhelming right now, but the views make this hike so worth it. Beautiful Aspens at this time!! Overview This is a moderate loop trail to Gem Lake in Stanislaus National Forest. Lovely little hike. Spikes helpful, but not required. We drove here and the entrance was blocked, then checked RMNP Facebook. Very nice easy hike and we love having it 10 minutes from our cabin, but you won't find solitude here. Gull Lake trail is one of my favorite hiking spots in the June Lake Loop area. 23 Homes For Sale in Gem Lake, MN. That granite! Not only the locals but also people around the world come to enjoy an amazing hiking trip. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail metrics. Gem Lake is a bit of an overstatement Very nice 3.8 mile hike. It is named "Gem" due to Theodore Agnew's reference of this lake being the "Gem-O'-the-Mountains" and referenced as such in McClure's mapping of the area in 1896. On Wednesday, I’m driving south for some Thanksgiving camping at Castaic Lake and to backpack a short section of the PCT that I’d skipped last year due to the Tick Fire. Balanced Rock is interesting, but again nothing spectacular (especially compared with all the beauty elsewhere in RMNP). Gem was a natural lake that was dammed in the early 1920's to create a much larger lake. This trail goes by Camp Lake, Piute Lake Campground, Piute Lake, Grouse Lake, and Crabtree Camp. At just over 8 miles from the trailhead you'll reach the side trail that leads to Balanced Rock. Download an official Rocky Mountain National Park map for basic road and attraction locations. Length: 1.6 miles to Gem Lake; 3.8 miles to Balanced Rock or 4.6 miles to Cow Creek. When we went, it wasn’t too buggy and the weather was perfect, only dipping down into the 50s at night and hovering in the mid 70s during the day. The Black Canyon section is drier and not as picturesque as the Gem Lake section, but is the road less travelled. After just under two miles, you'll emerge at Gem Lake. In my opinion, Gem Lake itself is nothing to look at. The Gem Lake Trail is located 3.5 miles from Estes Park, Colorado (CO) in Rocky Mountain National Park. 693 Trip Reports for this trail, below Gem Lake is nestled at the foot of Wright Mountain and is about two miles beyond the trail junction at Rock Creek trail #1013.1 that intersects with the Snow Lake trail starting at Alpental. See the Gem Lake entry for details. About half a mile into the hike the gloves come off halfway, as the trail tackles the steep mountain flank with the help of a few switchbacks. Bing Maps has a collection of great trails with directions to trail heads as well as photos. Black Canyon, Dark Mountain, Cow Creek, Gem Lake Loop, West Creek Falls and Fox Creek Falls Trail [CLOSED]. The location of Gem Lake Trail is a beautiful and easily accessible spot in Glen Haven, Colorado. overview. Gem Lake trail 554 starts out treacherously easily, meandering at the slightest of inclines beneath a thick canopy of fir. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on Trulia. Among the first to the lake, leaving at 7:15 on a Saturday. A rough trail drops steeply from Gem Lake for 1.65 miles through an aspen-ponderosa forest back to the trailhead to complete the loop (11.05 miles : 7,870'). The scenery will forever be etched in my brain. Difficult – You can make a large 11 mile loop by starting with the easy portion above and continuing up and around in a clockwise manner until you reach a branch in the trail that take toward the Cow Creek Trailhead. Gem Lake is a popular trail that originates at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. Zillow has 1 homes for sale in Gem Lake MN. I loved this hike. From the parking lot, follow the trail as it ascends through rugged rock outcroppings and take in the sweeping views of Estes Park and the surrounding mountains. Although the entire trail is only a 5.5 km loop, we’ve chosen to stay overnight because of the stories we’ve heard about the seven kettle lakes at the bottom of a series of winding ridges. Finally, at around the 4-mile mark, you reach a rock outcrop and a beautiful view of Gem Lake below. Within an hour, the lake looked much different than it did during our lakeside sunrise. Instead, continue heading south on the Lawn Lake Trail. It fills a shallow depression near the top of Lumpy Ridge, a massive granite rock complex home to numerous raptor species and world class climbing. Conditions were good. Gem Lake: 246 acre lake at 9050 feet and is about 2.6 miles from the trailhead. Total mileage was 20 miles. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. Gem Lake: 246 acre lake at 9050 feet and is about 2.6 miles from the trailhead. Not only do you get to visit a pretty lake but you also get sweeping views of Estes Park with Longs Peak in the distance. Loved the boulders. Definitely do this hike, keep your mask handy when you see other hikers approaching who put theirs on, and enjoy not being indoors! This segment of the trail, all the way up to Gem Lake, was added to … As I settle into the hammock, gently swaying back and forth in front of Opal Lake, the sun shines down and warms my skin. You'll need a permit for this loop so make sure to stop by the Summit District Ranger Station in … We’d planned to stay out for three nights, but the shift in the winds made it too smokey for us to spend another night outside. Download the free Estes Park topo map. Amazing views, good workout, a little steep at times but nothing too hard. Gem Lake is a short but strenuous hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Then the gloves come off completely, and the trail heads straight up. Gem Lake Trail and Lumpy Ridge Loop is a 7.1 kilometer heavily trafficked loop trail located near Estes Park, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. This trail goes by Gem Lake Trailhead. The Gem Lake Loop is located in Emigrant Wilderness, which borders Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park, and offers incredible views, smaller crowds, and diverse terrain. Starting from Silver Lake along SR158 (the June Lake loop) in Inyo National Forest, the Rush Creek trailhead provides efficient access to some of the most spectacular scenery in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. With more than 73 Gem Lake trails covering 734 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Gandy Dancer Trail - Southern Section or Interlink Trail. Beautiful colors surround the lake in autumn as … Gem Lake Loop, Emigrant Wilderness The fires last September squashed our original plans of hiking the Thousand Island Lake loop, so I spent hours trying to find a last minute, not smokey/not on fire backpacking trip that my mom, my aunt and I … Gem was a natural lake that was dammed in the early 1920's to create a much larger lake. Thank you for a very memorable backpacking trip! View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. There will be several points where you’ll think the climbing is finished, only to discover that they were only "false summits". This is a difficult loop trail to No Camping in Stanislaus National Forest. Trail Map | Photo Gallery. My sister has forged ahead, however, toward Gem Lake. The fires last September squashed our original plans of hiking the Thousand Island Lake loop, so I spent hours trying to find a last minute, not smokey/not on fire backpacking trip that my mom, my aunt and I could go on for their first backpacking trip. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September. The wilderness was ours alone the next day. Gem Lake - 3.3 Miles Round-Trip Gem Lake is located 1.65 miles from the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead on the northeast side of Rocky Mountain National Park. The plan was to start at the Crabtree Trailhead and spend three nights hiking to/around Gem Lake. The hike up to Gem Lake is the most strenuous part of the trail. This is a good spot for a break. Used spikes but didn't really need them. We got back to the car and drove to the Pinecrest, hoping to find a place to stay for the night, but the whole down was closed. We did not get to hike this, it is closed right now due to fires, so wanted to say something for others looking to do it right now. (There is also a privy on the trail near Gem Lake.). Turns out that just a couple of hours after we started our backpacking trip, the forest had closed, along with pretty much every forest in the state, due to fire danger. Photos and blog post to come soon, and hopefully it won’t take me as long to post about that trip as it took me to post about this one. It fills a shallow depression near the top of Lumpy Ridge, a massive granite rock complex home to numerous raptor species and world class climbing.. 10 miles partial loop to all three Elevation change: 1,100 feet to Gem Lake; other paths descend a little Difficulty: Easy to moderate Type: One way, or partial off-trail loop Usage: High to the lake, low thereafter Season: Spring, summer, fall Trailhead: Lumpy Ridge, off Devils Gulch Road We set up our tent on a nice flat area and filled and hung up our Platypus water reservoir on a nearby tree. We didn’t see a single person until we made it to Gem Lake that evening. Your Mom & Aunt Nancy look like season pros. I'd check there before you drive to the entrance, take the twin loop trail that's 2 mile round trip, in between take the climbers access loop thts 0.5 mile loop but super elevation.. v difficult.. the twins loop otherwise is easy. Some destinations have a higher price of admission than others. Difficult – You can make a large 11 mile loop by starting with the easy portion above and continuing up and around in a clockwise manner until you reach a branch in the trail that take toward the Cow Creek Trailhead. If you are looking for a short, family-friendly hike, and don’t mind a bit of a stair climb at times, this is a good hike to add to your to-do list. This section is the most technical of the entire loop as it's a bit challenging with rocks, willows, streams, and occasional moose. Beautiful trail full of woods, mountains, snow-capped peaks and so many beautiful sights and sounds. Luckily the Emigrant Wilderness looked like a relatively smokeless/fireless option, and there was no quota for permits, so I filled out the permit application online and off we went. The Gem Lake Trail is located 3.5 miles from Estes Park, Colorado (CO) in Rocky Mountain National Park. Gem Lake is nestled above the very popular Snow Lake, but below Wright’s Peak. Trail Map | … The only downside is the no dogs but that comes with the territory. Gr. Ignorance is bliss (when you don’t catch on fire). Well kept trail. The steep Clark Lake Trail … You'll take this all the way down to Route 34. We couldn’t have done it without your guidance. But you get some good views along the way of the mountains in the South. Gem Lake - 3.3 Miles Round-Trip Gem Lake is located 1.65 miles from the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead on the northeast side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Gem Lake fills a shallow granite depression atop Lumpy Ridge - expect crowds at this popular destination. Then the gloves come off completely, and the trail heads straight up. Rocky Mountain National Park charges a fee to enter. If you are entering on foot, horse, or bike the fee is $15 per person. More like a pond than a lake but still rad. Named after the precious stones pearl, opal, sapphire, jade and diamond, the lakes are said to sparkle majestically in the sunlight, just like gemstones. As of 10/12/20 Lumpy Ridge entrance is closed because of the fires. But it was really nice to have the place to ourselves. If you feel up to it, you can continue on the trail all the way to Waugh Lake. Although the trailhead is away from the main park, there are rangers stationed there to monitor passes and reservations. Despite going on a mid-morning Tuesday in off-season, we saw probably 40 people including my fellow Michigander @Alexander Karis who reviewed earlier. Despite a relatively exhausting outing yesterday in Yosemite's Tenaya Canyon, I will press on as well. Not only the locals but also people around the world come to enjoy an amazing hiking trip. The Lake when frozen and covered is very underwhelming but if you go around the lake and climb the rocks you get a great view of the mountains on the North end with distant smoke in the background. The Gem Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail, but it does meet up with another trail between Gem Lake and Balanced Rock if you want to do a much longer loop hike. Two others of the group follow me up the trail briefly, then change their minds. The parking lot was emptying out as backpackers were trickling back to their cars after their Labor Day weekend trips, so I was looking forward to a few quiet, people-less days with the trees. However, we continued on to Gem Lakes (10,915 ft), only a mile further up the trail and 4.2 miles from the start of the hike. Download an official Rocky Mountain National Park map for basic road and attraction locations. After just under two miles, you'll emerge at Gem Lake. Luckily the hike out was 90% flat or downhill. Gem Lake is a popular trail that originates at the Lumpy Ridge Trailhead. The Rush Creek trail heads up past Gem Lake and Waugh Lake … The location of Gem Lake Trail is a beautiful and easily accessible spot in Glen Haven, Colorado. See the Gem Lake entry for details. The aspen were starting to change color and the trail is wonderfully maintained and without litter. You will start a descent and head east. Gem Lake trail 554 starts out treacherously easily, meandering at the slightest of inclines beneath a thick canopy of fir. This is a moderate loop trail to Gem Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. About half a mile into the hike the gloves come off halfway, as the trail tackles the steep mountain flank with the help of a few switchbacks. There is a parking lot near the RV park as well as street parking across the road from the trailhead. Snow is packed to the point of ice in a few parts, but we didn't need any traction. This section of trail, all the way to Gem Lake, is a steep slog. You will start a descent and head east. Gem Lake Hike Posted on November 17, 2020 December 9, 2020 by jim The very nice thing about Rocky Mountain National Park being mostly closed – fewer tourists! From panoramic views to rocky climbing you can enjoy everything at Gem Lake Trail. I would love to go back and hike the section we did on the last day, but without smoke. Fees are $25 per vehicle/motorcycle. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. The parking lot has lots of space and a compost restroom. It is named "Gem" due to Theodore Agnew's reference of this lake being the "Gem-O'-the-Mountains" and referenced as such in McClure's mapping of the area in 1896. Enjoyed seeing Paul Bunyan's boot. Emigrant Wilderness: Gem Lake Loop Skip to entry content. The trail follows the north shore with plenty of ups and downs. Author & photographer: Ashlyn George The Gem Lake Trail leads to the right, and begins ascending the southeastern portions of Lumpy Ridge, a massive granite rock outcropping that's been sculpted by wind and erosion over the last 1.8 billion years. The names alone tell the story I suppose—you certainly wouldn’t expect easy hiking in … Oops. We had beautiful weather the whole day – mostly blue skies, which was a nice treat after the previous day’s hazy skies. Gem Lake was a gorgeous spot with tons of good spot to camp. This was was certainly the case for our recent backpack into the Seven Devils of Idaho’s Hells Canyon Wilderness. ... June Lake is a hidden gem in the Eastern Sierra, just north of Mammoth Lakes. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $70. This was a two days trip going out to Gem Lake via the Crabtree Trail and back via the Bell Meadow Trail. I loop and secure the ropes around each tree. From panoramic views to rocky climbing you can enjoy everything at Gem Lake Trail. The Gem Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail, but it does meet up with another trail between Gem Lake and Balanced Rock if you want to do a much longer loop hike. 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