Hanging Lake Trail

We had seen that Hanging Lake Trail was a #1 sight to see on a couple of tourist sites, Sue and I took off to see it the first day in Glenwood Springs.  Imagine our disappointment when we arrived at the exit and it says Hanging Lake closed no unauthorized entrance.   That evening while having a great dinner at Krysta and Bryan's house we spoke of our disappointment.  Krysta start laughing and said no problem I work for the center in charge of issuing permits.   Couple of days later we went down and easily received permits and bus tickets.  Thanks Krysta !!!!!!

Hanging Lake is on a fault and apparently was created when an acre and one half sheared off and fell creating the lake bottom.  The canyon it is located in is Dead Horse Gulch named so because the person who discovered the lake did so while prospecting and during his trip up the canyon found a dead horse.  This lake water is a beautiful turquoise color, and the falls are spread around it like a veil. 

OK now the trail, this one was a killer and took us over an hour to travel the mile and a half to the top.   The grade was a near steady 15 grade to the top and in the mile and a half we climbed over 2000 feet in additional elevation.  

Needless to say we took a break and took in the amazing views.

Find the trail in this photo

Now not only is the trail rough, we've reached snow. 

Can't get lost, just follow the stream.  UP UP UP UP !!!!

Stepping stones to cross stream

My turn to negotiate stepping stones 

Cool breeze over water felt good 

If you look closely you'll see this is a staircase, 

Staircase continues

Still going up

Top of Stairs required a few strange steps to get up.

We made it and wow, was it worth the climb 

Sue had packed a lunch to we picnicked in the sky, by a lake on top of a mountain.

Can we get a table with a view ?

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Chipmunks smelled the food and came running

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Relaxing for awhile before the descent 

All things run together and then a river runs through it