Hanging Lake (7,290′), Glenwood Canyon
Hanging Lake, in Glenwood Canyon, is a beautiful travertine lake formed high up in Deadhorse Canyon. The lake was formed when an acre and a half of the valley floor sheared off from a fault and dropped to what is now the shallow bed of the lake. This travertine lake is extremely sensitive, so please respect the special regulations to preserve the lake.
The beautiful turquoise colors of the lake are produced by carbonate minerals that have dissolved in the water. The fragile shoreline of the lake is composed of travertine, created when dissolved limestone is deposited on rocks, logs, and shoreline. Hanging Lake was designated a National Natural Landmark in 2011.
Trail Stats
- Trailhead: Hanging Lake
- Round trip: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
- Elevation: 6,120′ – 7,290′ / 1,865 m – 2,222 m
- County: Garfield
- Agency: U.S. Forest Service
- Nat’l Forest: White River
- Designated: National Natural Landmark
Trail Pictures
The hike starts by following the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path for a couple hundred yards along the Colorado River
GPS Route with Elevation
Video Tour
Trail Directions
The trail is a steep and rocky scenic trail that climbs from the bottom of Glenwood Canyon, up through Deadhorse Creek Canyon, to the Lake.
The Spouting Rock trail at Hanging Lake will take you to a towering limestone wall and the source of Hanging Lake.
Trailhead Directions