Hiking Guide to Gore Lake and Snow Lake in the Gore Range Near Vail
I had heard plenty of people rave about the Gore Lake Trail outside of Vail, so when I finally lined up a day to hike it, I was stoked! The jagged Gore Range is one of Colorado’s closest in similarity to the Washington Cascades (of those near Denver), and I had been itching for alpine lakes, wildflowers, and some exploration.
I joined a couple of friends, and we started our hike decently early on a Friday, without another soul on the trail. Our route would follow the standard Gore Lake Trail, but we were adding an off-trail addition of Snow Lake to our trek. This was what had us most excited, as we’d seen incredible photos from this hidden lake and wanted to see it for ourselves!
Inside, you’ll get a full trail recap of Gore Lake and Snow Lake, along with plenty of photos to inspire your next adventure!
Hiking Report for Gore Lake Trail and Snow Lake Near Vail, Colorado
1-Minute Hiking Details
- Distance: 13 miles (16 miles with Snow Lake)
- Elevation Gain: 2,900 feet (4,500 feet with Snow Lake)
- Difficulty: Hard
- Trailhead Location
- Starting Elevation: 8,680
- Gore Lake Elevation: 11,370
- No Drones. No backpacking permit limitations.
Early Morning Start on the Gore Lake Trail
By 6:45am, our group of three was on the trail, beginning what would be a 16-mile day and almost 10 hours in nature. The first 4.5 miles are what I’d call a cruiser trail. Very easy to navigate and move quickly on. While this stretch does gain 1,600 feet of elevation, it’s all spread out, without any major incline sections.
I really loved hiking through the aspen groves, seeing the giant Monument plants, and hearing the soothing Gore Creek sounds. It was supremely beautiful.
Tough Uphill to Gore Lake
A little under three hours later, we hit the junction/gravesite, which takes you to Gore Lake. I call it a gravesite because there are literally two (three?) people buried with a marker on the trail. I had no idea, and it’s a bit weird, but also so outlandish/unexpected it’s funny.
This first section is quite steep and unrelenting for about 3/4’s of a mile, and then it returns to a more gradual incline. Once the incline along the creek is wrapped up, you’ll enter a beautiful meadow area. If you go in July, you’ll have some gorgeous wildflowers to look at.
Once you leave the meadow, expect another mile uphill to the lake. The last bit to get to the lake basin is a little steeper, but nothing too hard. Now, you’ve made it to Gore Lake! We went just a smidge counterclockwise to find a spot to eat and rest, but didn’t do much exploring here. Overall, with plenty of photo stops, it took us 4 hours to get to Gore Lake. (We stopped for at least 30 minutes at one point shooting flowers.)
Off-Trail to Snow Lake
This was the part we had all been looking forward to! We backtracked down the trail a half mile or so and then set off towards the drainage to the east of Gore Lake. Thanks to some research, we knew the general direction, but had read any trail would be faint.
So, we basically blazed our own path, following the topo-lines on our map for directions to stay on the most gradual incline route. Once we made the ridge, we finally found an established trail heading left towards Snow Lake. This valley was remarkably beautiful. Jagged peaks, green lush landscapes, and a creek running through it. Just incredible!
Off-trail travel is undertaken solely at your own risk; I assume no responsibility for injury, loss, or damage.
After rounding the corner and beginning our way up the drainage, the trail hugs the creek. While it does get faint at some points, keep going straight. Even if you aren’t technically on whatever climber’s trail may or may not be present, you really can’t get lost here.
Once we reached Snow Lake, we gave each other some high fives and looked fondly at the lake. We were all pretty tired, but thankfully, the view was so pretty. And the peaks above it were wicked rocky. After photos, I started up the right side of the lake towards the far slope. This is where the flowers were supposed to be.
Even though you couldn’t see it from the mouth of the lake, once I arrived in the grove of bushes and flowers, I had found alpine heaven. It was teeming with flowers of all colors. Honestly, it was one of the most beautiful sights I’d ever seen!
After yelling and making a fuss about how surreal and beautiful it all was, my two friends joined me up top, and we soaked up every last minute of the views.
The Return Trek to the Car
Sadly, we couldn’t spend forever up here, and by 2:30pm we had started to head back to the car. We had around 8 miles to go, but thankfully it was almost entirely downhill, and we could make a more straightforward return to the trail than our route coming up to Snow Lake.
The trek down was pretty simple, though the last mile, after already putting 15 miles on our feet, had us all feeling exhausted. By 5:30, we reached the parking lot; shoes were quickly swapped for flip-flops, sweaty clothes were changed, and the AC started blasting.
This was one heckuva day and was the longest day hike I’d done in many years – definitely since having my BMT in 2023. But it was worth it. We saw one of the most rugged mountain ranges in Colorado with fields of flowers, creating lasting memories.
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What to know about the Gore Lake Trail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness
No Drone Zone
This hike is almost entirely in the Eagles Nest Wilderness, which means drones are prohibited from taking off or landing within the boundaries. Leave the extra weight at home and enjoy the views of nature with your own two eyes!
Roller Coast Trail Until the Gravesite
The first 4.5 miles has a nice and steady incline with 1,600 feet of gain until you reach the gravesite. For the most part, it’s a mellow trail that you can move fast on, though rocky in some parts.
Tons of Water Available
There’s no shortage of water along the Gore Creek Trail. Feel free to pack light when it comes to water and fill up as you need. The water access does become limited as you make the climb past the grave site. There’s an easy fill-up spot at the junction to get a liter or two for the climb.
First couple miles make for a great day hike
If you’re only looking for a 3-4 mile trail, this still makes for a wonderful hike along a creek and in the forest. There are spots where, on a hot day, you can easily get down to the water to soak and cool off.
Big Parking Lot
There’s little concern about the parking lot filling up. It’s pretty big, and there’s ample room on weekdays and weekends. Still, as you’re hiking in a valley, it can warm up in the afternoons. Starting in the morning is ideal, especially if you’re planning to go all the way to Gore Lake and complete the 12-13 mile round trip hike.
More photos from Gore Lake and Snow Lake inside the Gore Range
Enjoy some of my favorite photos from the Gore Range.
Lodging and Camping Nearby
The Gore Creek Campground is located in a perfect position for those wishing to camp while they are visiting Vail. The campground has 16 sites with pit toilets and potable water from spigots.
But if you want to stay at hotels/resorts, there are PLENTY in the Vail Valley. Vail is closer and has more name recognition, but Avon tends to be less expensive, though they have the uber-expensive Beaver Creek properties nearby, too.
Vail Suggestions:
Avon Suggestions:
- Comfort Inn
- The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
- Springhill Suites By Marriott
- Sheraton Mountain Vista Villas
Day Hiking Gear I Recommend
- Hat – either wide-brimmed or this Patagonia style
- Sunblock
- Trail Runners – Altra Lone Peaks are my go-to
- Sun Shirt or Sunhoody – Colder conditions: REI Sahara Shade, Warmer Conditions: Patagonia Capilene, Other good ones: Fjallraven Abisko, Outdoor Research Astroman
- Hiking Shirt – Patagonia Capilene is my favorite
- Rain Jacket – Torrentshell 3L Jacket
- Hiking shorts – Fjallraven or these from Prana
- Wool hiking socks – Darn Tough is fantastic
- Sunglasses – Goodr are perfect without breaking the bank
- Hiking Pack 15-25 liters is perfect for a day hike – This one’s on the smaller end, here’s a 25L option
- At least 2L of water and bring this easy-to-use 1 L filter
- Snacks and a sandwich – bring something salty to help with sodium replenishment
Final Thoughts on hiking to Gore Lake and Snow Lake
Gore Lake itself is a long day hike, and even harder with a backpack on (though nothing overly challenging). Add in Snow Lake, and you’ve got yourself one incredible, albeit exhausting day in the mountains. But after doing the trek, it was so worth it.
This is such a beautiful section of the Colorado Rockies and is prime for adventure. Whether you go to just Gore Lake, or find yourself getting up to Snow Lake, you’re in for a wonderful, wonderful day.
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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