I’m in Colorado this week attending an Adventure Travel Conference learning about a bunch of cool new adventures that people like me and you can take. I’m also doing a few adventures myself: horseback riding, white water rafting, hut-to-hut hiking, and visiting breweries/distilleries (Yes – drinking is adventure travel…really it is). This is my first time in the Snowmass/Aspen area and let me tell you – it’s beautiful! There’s a ton of snow yet in the Colorado Rockies and that means the rivers are bloated and wild – which will make the white water rafting quite an adventure. I’ll be firing up the GoPro for that for sure!
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Up, Up, Up to Hanging Lake
While driving from Denver to Snowmass yesterday my friend, Dan, took me on a great hike at Hanging Lake. 1,000 ft elevation gain was just what I needed to start to acclimate to the Rockies again. The lake at the top really was that color aqua…no enhancement necessary.
The hike goes to heights of 7323 Feet, so this is no walk in the park. But the views at the top are worth it. The lake was formed by a geologic fault which caused the lake bed to drop away from the gently sloping valley above it. It probably should have been called Dropping Lake. Water flows into the lake over Bridal Veil Falls, and the whole area was named a National Natural Landmark in 2011.
Explore Piney Lake – a side of Vail you’ve never seen before
Plan Ahead if You Want to Hike Hanging Lake Trail as of 2018
Hanging Lake, a National Natural Landmark, is one of the most popular hikes in the state of Colorado but during the peak summer months, the trail becomes overcrowded and the trailhead parking lot fills up quickly. In 2017, there were 184,000 visitors, a 23 percent increase over 2016, which prompted the U.S. Forest Service to instigate an environmental management plan limiting the number of hikers to 615 per day to help preserve the integrity of its natural beauty and uniqueness.
The overall goal of this proposal is to create and implement a management system that protects Hanging Lake’s natural resources; manages trail congestion and high visitor use; improves the visitor’s outdoor adventure experience and supports local tourism. The plan will benefit the fragile ecology by effectively protecting its natural and historic resources, limiting soil compaction to improve soil health, plant viability, stream health, and wildlife habitat, and improving the experience for hikers. Visitors will be given the option to take a shuttle to and from the site and be required to purchase a pass in advance via the Recreation.gov website reservation system.
My summer has many more adventures in store. I’ll be heading to Wisconsin and Minnesota to see family after Colorado, then to Belize with my niece Allie, and August will be spent going above the Arctic Circle…yes, you read that right. I’ll be spending August with polar bears, walruses, and more. Even though my life of travel has its ups and downs – it’s worth every moment.
Check out my hiking packing list: essential hiking gear for any hike
More Colorado Hiking Experiences
Going to great heights hiking in Crested Butte
Hanging Lake Colorado hiking adventure
5 Travel Essentials to Take on Every Trip
One of the things I like about Klean Kanteen is that they have a system where you really just need to purchase one insulated bottle and then use their interchangeable caps for your different needs; caps for sipping drinks, straws lids for cold drinks, or chug caps. One bottle is really all you need!
Compression socks are great for faster muscle recovery and to fight blood clots on long flights or long road trips.
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Packing organizers are the key to packing happiness – they turn your bag into a piece of furniture. I use mine to organize my different types of clothes, just like I would a dresser; one has t-shits, one has pants, one has sweaters. You get the idea – it’s packing bliss. I use and love Eagle Creek packing solutions.
I love all of their styles and normally always have at least 2 of their different hats with me on every trip I take! All of their styles offer superb sun protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the material of every Wallaroo hat with a UPF rating and a 3+ inch brim as an effective UV protectant. Plus - they have so many fashionable styles!
Use my Discount code, OTTSWORLD20, for an extra 20% regular priced items!
I love this pouch - you can fit so much into it - it really is deceptive! Whether storing cables, everyday gear, or travel essentials, Tech Pouch offers unrivaled organization and ease of access. Origami-style pockets create enormous spatial efficiency, letting you pack more into a smaller space while keeping your items neatly organized and easy to find. This goes on every trip with me!
By Izy Berry June 22, 2015 - 12:32 pm
Omg i think i will try this i love when i can found great things in good price
By shara June 29, 2015 - 9:49 am
Colorado is a great country to explore because of the tourist attraction and the people living in there are hospitable.
By Ryan March 10, 2016 - 4:11 am
Delicate eco system at Hanging Lake. NOT supposed to walk on the log and risk killing the blue waters. Very selfish to do that.
By Sherry March 10, 2016 - 10:13 am
I was surprised at the number of people who ignored the sign and walked on the log. It seemed that they saw other people doing it so they felt justified to break the rule that was clearly marked.