Black Lake Hiking Series - Saturday

About Camp

BLACK LAKEMILEAGE (ROUND TRIP): 9.8ZONE: Front Range EastTRAILHEAD: Glacier Gorge Bus StopHIGHEST ELEVATION: 10,625 feetELEVATION GAIN: +1536/-55 feetDRIVING TIME: 25 minutesTOTAL TIME (APPROX): 6½ hoursHIKE RATING GRADES:- TERRAIN: F- HIGHEST ELEVATION: D- ELEVATION GAIN: F- MILEAGE: D- OVERALL: E- PREREQUISITE: GHike Description: Landmarks, Routes, & WaypointsStart at the west end of the Glacier Gorge parking lot and hike to Mills Lake as described in the Mill?s Lake hike description. Continue around the east side of Mills Lake, southward around Jewel Lake (3.2 miles from GG TH), and up the east side of Glacier Creek past the Glacier Gorge campground (3.6 miles). Observe, at about 4.0 miles, the swath of downed trees caused by an avalanche in March, 2003. From here, you can see Shelf Creek Falls up high across the gorge, on the lower slope of Thatchtop Mt. Ribbon Falls, at 4.7 miles, is a 100 foot long water slide into a deep, roiling pool. Black Lake, nestled in a deep cirque between McHenry?s Peak and Arrowhead Arête, is just another 200 yards up the trail. Following the trail to the left about 100 yards past the east end of the lake, there is a large rock which offers a panoramic view of the lake and a great place for lunch.Points of Interest: Animals, Plants, History, & GeologyThe chain of lakes down Glacier Gorge are an example of ?pater noster? lakes (analogous to a string of rosary beads) formed by the gouging action of glacial ice. Jewel Lake was named in 1923 after Edwin Jewell who founded the Omaha Walking Club. Black and Green Lakes are shown with those names in a 1905 map drawn by Enos Mills. Above Black Lake you can see Stoneman?s Pass, McHenry's Peak, and Arrowhead Arête. Elk, Deer, and many birds frequent the wooded shores of the lake in the early morning and evening.Recommendations: Preparations, Equipment, & CautionsHail storms and changeable weather seem particularly common in the upper reaches of Glacier Gorge. And, as befitting the spectacular scenery, the terrain becomes increasingly rugged as one climbs up to Black Lake. Take extra warm clothes, rain gear, and sturdy boots.