Kelsey Schultz
Google
Everything I saw about this trail stated the trail, out and back, is 8.8 miles long. I tracked half of it at 5 miles (my phone was about to die before turning back), for a total of 10 miles. More than 2,000 miles of elevation gain. The trail is composed of three sections- forest, tundra, and bouldering and took us about 7 hours to complete (including several breaks, lunch, and time to enjoy the lake). All colors of wildflowers line the path along the way along with several gorgeous waterfalls and brooks. Probably the most beautiful and diverse hike I've been on.
This was more difficult than I expected. I read several reviews on AllTrails and knew it would be challenging, but didn't expect this level of difficulty. Also important to note that I'm from the flatland St. Louis area, so my lungs definitely are not acclimated to the high elevation.
The lake at the very end was incredible. It felt like a movie getting there. The very last stretch of the trail takes you to a bouldering section where you must climb to reach the lake. The lake is imperceptible until you climb over the boulders. My sister and I swam in the lake, I would guess the water was 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
HIGHLY recommend starting as early in the day as possible to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. We got caught in one and feared for our lives. 🙃 We made it down safely, but slid quite a bit on wet rock.