American Lake is located 3.1 miles from Castle Creek Road in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. It lies near treeline at the top of Devaney Creek in a narrow, high-walled valley. The hike is distinguished by long stretches of aspen and open slopes with good wildlife viewing opportunities. American Lake is an ideal choice for active families, runners and seeing autumn colors.

The American Lake Trail climbs 835' in the first mile, then moderates through intervals of meadows, forest and scree slopes to the lake

Aspen have a relatively short life span, and often don't produce seeds; instead, lateral roots produce vertical shoots called suckers, some of which will grow into mature trees

Oxeye daisies, introduced from Europe as an ornamental, are actually considered an invasive weed typically found along meadows and roadsides

Steep slopes that are susceptible to rockslides and avalanches characterize the Elk Range, creating frequent disturbances that perpetuate the dominance of aspen forests at lower elevations

Adolescent bull elk form small bachelor herds in the summer; it will be several years before this male can compete in the autumn rut

Large open slopes are good places to see wildlife on the American Lake Trail

Indian Paintbrush belongs to a genus of 200 species of partially or fully parasitic plants that derive nourishment from the roots of other plants

Dissolved minerals from surrounding rock and plant decay contribute to American Lake's blue-green hue

Monkshood is similar in appearance to Larkspur, but with a distinct hood or helmet-like flower

Mule Deer are among the most widely distributed mammals in western North America, ranging from coastal islands off Alaska to Baja California

Colorado subalpine forests typically occur at 9,000' - 11,000' with primary constituents of subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce

American Lake is one of the most popular day hikes in the Aspen area, but sees lighter overnight crowds than nearby Cathedral Lake and enjoys fewer campfire restrictions