Total elevation gain approximately 2000ft) Trail Length: Officially I saw everything from 9-10 miles, my fitbit said we went 11 miles but we did walk around the upper lake a lot. The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a paved, 18-mile pathway with the lake on one side, parks on the other and spectacular views of the Chicago skyline all the way. From the picnic area parking on the west side of Echo Lake, walk south along the lake-shore path to the SW corner of the lake and keep going south to intersect Trail #52. Took about 2 hours 15 mins to get to Upper Chicago Lake and 1.5 hrs back down. Elevation Profile. Looking for a great trail near Chicago, Illinois? Summit Lake Park provides easy access to the popular Summit Lake and Chicago Lakes Overlook. DIFFICULT 8.0 mi. Final Score Mt. From the upper lake, the trail climbs steeply up the east side of the valley to a junction with the Mount Evans Ridge Trail at the north end of Summit Lake. DIFFICULT 3.6 mi. The trail to the second lake, above treeline, is difficult to follow at times and is very steep. 12:45. Dispersed camping is allowed near the Chicago Lakes Trail, and all entering the Mount Evans Wilderness need a self-issued permit available at the trailhead. The portion of the trail leading to Idaho Springs Reservoir is a local favorite for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. BigDirty 901 views. Trail Uses: hiker in all places and then horses in some….NO BIKES The trail eventually leads to the Lower and Upper Chicago Lakes. Lincoln Lake Trail, accessible from Echo Lake year-round, is not as glamorous as its sister trail, Chicago Lakes, but is a wonderfully private and scenic trail favored by backpackers, horseback riders, snowshoers, and skiers. Fortunately, the fire stopped short of the lakes themselves, and it is the last mile of the trail that really makes the hike worthwhile. EASY 4.0 mi. It is all part of the Chicago Lakefront Trail, an 18.5-mile-long path located along the western shore of Lake Michigan that is used for walking, jogging, cycling, scootering and skateboarding. Alpine lakes and stunning vista are not always locked away in the back country. Royalty-Free Stock Photo. Indiana Dunes National Park on the Greet Lakes. The Chicago Lakefront Trail (LFT) is a 18.5-mile-long (29.8 km) partial shared use path for walking, jogging, skateboarding, and cycling, located along the western shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois.The trail passes through and connects Chicago's four major lakefront parks along with various beaches and recreational amenities. Description: The Chicago Lakes Trail is a great hiking opportunity and location in the Mount Evans Wilderness Area. From the trailhead, pick up one of the numerous social trails heading southwest. After refueling, you can continue the trail up the southern ridge to Summit Lake to properly finish the Chicago Lakes Trail. On the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan sits one of the newest National Parks: Indiana Dunes National Park.Explore 50 miles of trails … Download preview. To start, Echo Lake is gorgeous. Both lakes offer excellent views of surrounding peaks. The overlook platform is half a mile round trip along a wheelchair friendly path. Idaho Springs Dam via Chicago Lakes Trail. Follow the sign towards the Chicago Lakes Trail (west). Turn right down the first dirt road on your right and continue .25 miles to the parking area. Lower Chicago Lake sits just at treeline. Getty. Clear Creek Ranger District 101 Chicago Creek Road P.O. The trailhead is located at 10,600′; the final destination is at 11,800′. To get to the Upper Chicago Lake, head back to the Chicago Lakes Trail and continue another mile. Most of the birds have gone down below the snow-line, the plants sleep, and all the fly-wings are folded. The weather in the Mount Evans Wilderness can change rapidly; be prepared for high winds, snow, rain, hail, and intense sunlight. This photograph shows Mount Evans in the distance. The scenery is mountains and trees, and the lakes were quite pretty with the mountains in the backdrop. Many people on the trail, and when I got back to the parking lot, there were a lot of cars in the parking lot and on the road. Seasonal Popularity. You get an appetizer of a view of the Chicago Lakes basin from the trail, just a taste of whats to come in 4 miles. You will pass through an old burn area where in 1978, 400 acres burned in the Reservoir Fire. I took it easy for the first 5 miles, and reached the upper Chicago lake after 2 hours. From here the trail will descent in switchbacks for 300ft until it joins the Chicago Lakes Trail, which is a dirt road for the first mile until slightly past the Idaho Springs Reservoir at 10617ft. Turn right and begin following the Chicago Lakes Trail #52. Evans, which is currently closed, and circles around Echo lake before truly starting. From I-70, exit #240 and head south on HWY 103 (toward Mt Evans) for 13 miles to Echo Lake. Yet the sun beams gloriously many a cloudless day in midwinter, casting long lance shadows athwart the dazzling expanse.” – John Muir, Mountains of California. Nearby Hiking Trails. Seasonal Popularity. 2. The Chicago Lakes Trail begins at Echo Lake (west side), 13.25 miles south of I-70 on HWY 103. The downside of the Chicago Lakes hike is that in includes a mile of monotonous road walking followed by another mile through the scorched remains of an old forest fire. Chicago Lakes Trail to Resthouse TR 57. Chicago Lakes Trail May 2016 pt1 - Duration: 12:45. The trail continues to the upper lake, above treeline. Chicago Lakes Trail. While the views from there are spectacular, Summit Lake itself is a wonderful example of the alpine environment. From Evergreen, take Squaw Pass Road to Echo Lake. Chicago Lakes Trail No. The upper lake is a great place to rest and have lunch. They also noted that the relatively narrow, low-lying, frequently swamped Lakefront Trail, juxtaposed with eight-lane Lake Shore Drive several feet above it, is a metaphor for our national transportation priorities. West Chicago Creek Campground via Hells Hole Trail. Echo Lake is really pretty, and the hike to the Chicago Lakes is alright. 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