Crystal Lakes - 8.6 Miles Round-Trip

The Crystal Lakes are located just south of Breckenridge at the head of a broad glacial valley in the Ten Mile Range. Lower Crystal Lake occupies a shallow basin in a wide berth midway up the Crystal Creek drainage, and Upper Crystal Lake is located 1.9 miles and 900' up in a high-walled cirque carved from the slopes of Father Dyer Peak (13,615') and Crystal Peak (13,852').

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Though Lower Crystal Lake is accessible by 4WD car, many visitors opt to walk up from the Spruce Creek Trailhead to fully experience this idyllic alpine landscape.

Upper Crystal Lake is open only to foot travel, a more challenging trek into the high country with exceptional views and wildlife that includes marmot, ptarmigan, mountain goat and bighorn sheep:

From Spruce Creek Trailhead, continue up the dirt road to Crystal Creek Road - #803 and bear right (.25 miles : 10,495'). Crystal Creek Road steepens considerably through mixed pine to a forest road intersection and keeps straight (1.25 miles : 11,229').

Grades moderate in a thinning forest with emerging views of Mount Helen's east ridge to the Wheeler National Recreational Trail junction (1.45 miles : 11,382'). Keep straight.

The road-trail passes through treeline into an expansive alpine valley with stunning views of Mount Helen (13,164'), Father Dyer Peak and Crystal Peak (1.75 miles : 11,481').

Crystal Creek cuts through the wide valley floor, a good place to find moose and bedded down elk. Adjacent meadows support an array of flowers and thick mats of willow.

The grade relaxes up-valley to Lower Crystal Lake (2.4 miles : 11,959') and remains of an old cabin. A mining road branches left up the flank of Mount Helen, a social trail leads up the lake's open south shore, and the main trail continues north over the outlet.

Once over the outlet, the dirt road quickly fades into a wide, grassy track on a winding course over the Crystal Lake basin. Lingering snow may conceal the path, but patient eyes should find the way.

The trail gradually bends NE and climbs steadily up the north valley wall. At 3.0 miles (12,284') it banks west, east, then west again as it narrows on a rocky path on a direct line into the tapering upper valley.

The ramp-like trail rises steadily with big views down-valley, and great vantages for seeing mountain goat and bighorn sheep. Be mindful of loose rock and steep drop-offs around you.

The trail passes through a slot and crests over the rocky cirque holding Upper Crystal Lake (4.2 miles : 12,927'). The main trail continues west around the cirque, while a social trail can be seen down around the lake's east shore.  The latter is where you want to be, but there's no clear way to reach it; simply find a convenient place to drop through the talus - roughly 80 yards - to the north shore of Upper Crystal Lake (4.3 miles : 12,874').

Upper Crystal Lake is tightly bound by steep rock walls, but the east shore is open and easily explored. Improvise your way east through open tundra to two large ponds and commanding views down the Crystal Creek drainage.