Gore Lake is one of the prettiest in the Gore Range near Vail, CO. It also boasts some of the biggest trout you’ll see in an alpine environment. Which of course makes it a destination for any serious hiker, fisherman, or photographer. I happen to be all three so of course I had to visit the lake.
The hike is 6.5 miles long and is steep in several sections. While arduous in spots, the nice thing about this trail it that it intersperses flat, level sections to allow you to catch your brief periodically. It begins at the Gore Creek trailhead off of the Big Horn Road near East Vail. The trail passes the junction with the Deluge Lake trail in about .25 mile and then climbs steeply up into the aspen forest. The aspen are dense for the first 1.5 miles and then give way to conifer forest. Around the 1.5 mile mark, the trail climbs a steep rocky section before crossing Deluge Creek over a bridge at the 2.5 mile mark. The trail passes through willow and several creeks cross the trail over the next mile. The trail now climbs steadily for the next half mile before flattening out on the approach to the trail junction at mile 5. Bear left to head to Gore Lake or stay straight if ascending the very steep Red Buffalo Pass.
Bearing left to the lake you will pass a grave marker for two Swedes who died in the early 1900s. The next .75 mile is a lung and quad burner. It seems to head straight up the mountain in stretches. When you reach a small waterfall on your right, there is one last sharp incline before the trail flattens out in a lower meadow below the lake. You wander about .5 mile through a boggy environment as partial views of the mountains begin to open around you. Finally, the trail has one last steep section in store as it climbs the last 300 feet or so to Gore Lake over the last .5 mile. The climb is worth it as views of the peaks around the lake open all around. Look for the 18″-22″ cutthroat trout cruising the shallows of the lake. Then enjoy the fields of wildflowers to the south of the lake. This area boasts many good camping spots as well. Be sure to look for mountain goats in the area. I saw at a dozen watering about while I was there.
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Purple Mountain aster wildflowers, Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Wildflowers, Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, Vail, CO
cutthroat trout, Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, CO
cutthroat trout, Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, CO
Mountain goats, Gore Lake, Eagles Nest Wilderness, CO