Deluge Lake - 9.1 Miles Round-Trip

Deluge Lake is located 4.55 miles from Gore Creek Trailhead in the Eagles Nest Wilderness north of Vail. It sits above treeline at the head of a broad valley deep in the Gore Range. The Deluge Lake Trail is highlighted by abundant aspen and long stretches of alpine meadow. Visitors will enjoy varied terrain, airy landscapes and well-earned solitude on the challenging hike to Deluge Lake:

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The trail rises quickly to the Deluge Lake - Gore Creek Trail split and banks north (.1 mile). It moderates across a grassy slope to a sharp NE turn that begins a long, strenuous climb (.35 miles : 8,778').

The trail is narrowly cut, overgrown in many places and variously rocky and slick with loose sand. Tread carefully along short sections with steep drop-offs.

It reaches a break in the aspen and levels across 100 yards of talus (1.35 miles : 9,925'). Steep climbing leads into the subalpine (1.6 miles : 10,265') where grades moderate under a tall spruce-fir canopy (2.0 miles : 10,690'). Look for grouse, elk and bear in this dark and verdant stretch.

The trail crests on a high ridge near treeline, but promptly drops back into the forest (2.75 miles : 11,076'). It passes through a large clearing (3.05 miles : 11,007') and undulates down to Deluge Creek with expanding views of the upper valley (3.4 miles : 10,945').

The trail runs up the west bank of Deluge Creek for a short time as another becomes visible along the east bank (3.65 miles : 11,145'). Remain vigilant, as the trail will cross Deluge Creek to the east side at an unmarked point.

Find a narrow point to cross and resume steep climbing through the last of treeline. Travel gradually eases across a string of alpine meadows (4.05 miles : 11,325') and makes one final push to a crest that dips on a faint path to Deluge Lake (4.55 miles : 11,746').

The lake vicinity and slopes above are relatively obstacle free and easy to explore. Look for mountain goat along serrated ridgelines framing the valley.

Grand Traverse Peak (13,041') caps the Deluge basin's northwest corner, while triangular Snow Peak (13,024') distinguishes the east valley wall. Views down valley include summits from the Ten Mile and Sawatch ranges.

Skilled hikers can scale Snow Peak's north saddle and drop to Snow Lake, which has no maintained trail leading to it. A challenging x-country loop can be formed by following Snow Lake's outlet to the Gore Lake Trail, which joins the Gore Creek Trail back to the Gore Creek Trailhead in Vail.