37° 59' 20.7" N 105° 39' 45.8" W

Route Type: Out and Back

Distance: 10.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 2989 ft

Max Elevation: 11572 ft

Trailhead: Willow Creek Trailhead, Crestone CO

Permits Required: No

Recommended Duration: 3 days/2 nights

Post-Hike Beer: Pikes Peak Elephant Rock IPA

The Hike:

The hike to Willow Lake in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness roughly follows Willow Creek for ~5 miles (10.2 miles RT) with nearly 3000 ft of elevation gain. It’s a strenuous climb, especially in the final 1.5 miles of switchbacks, so it is recommended as an overnight trip.

Logistics:

The trailhead is just outside of the tiny town of Crestone, CO which has a few shops and restaurants. The small towns of Cañon City (~2.5 hours) and Alamosa (~1 hour) both have large grocery and outdoor stores which provide more options for supplies. The closest major cities are Pueblo and Colorado Springs (~3 hours).

To reach the trailhead you must drive approximately 1.5 miles up a moderately rough forest service road which may be difficult for some vehicles. A small crossover/SUV will get the job done in dry conditions but the road may become very muddy and require a 4x4 in wet conditions. There are several roadside camping spots on the way to the trailhead that can be used before starting your hike in order to get an early start to avoid the midday heat.

The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is administered by the National Forest Service and there is no fee for camping or parking required. There is a designated camping zone just before reaching the lake with several established campsites and camping is prohibited past this area (no camping is allowed along the lake shore).

Breakdown

Day 1 (5.1 miles)

After passing through Crestone, Galena Ave transitions to a gravel/dirt road that leads to the trailhead for Willow Lake and South Crestone Lake two miles later. Along the dirt road there are plenty of roadside camping spots that can be used to get an early start for your ascent to Willow Lake. Plenty of parking is available at the trailhead as well as a vault toilet that is maintained by the NFS. The trail begins on the east side of the parking lot and is clearly marked with signage and information about the hike. Once you are under way you will encounter a fork in the trail after just 0.1 miles that leads either to South Crestone Lake or Willow Lake. Stay to the right at the fork and begin your climb to the top. The first 1/4 mile or so of the trail is quite sandy and makes for some poor footing, but this quickly changes once you reach the first switchbacks. For the next 1.2 miles you will zig zag your way up the valley on a series of switchbacks mixed with some longer uphill sections as you gain ~700 ft in elevation. Next, you will begin a short downhill section that leads to a meadow situated alongside Willow Creek which provides a good resting point, which you may want to take advantage of (the rest of the hike is essentially all uphill).

After leaving the meadow you will begin climbing along a stretch that skirts the side of the mountain before reaching a series of sharp switchbacks at 2.7 miles. The section from these switchbacks to the designated camping area is the steepest and most difficult section of the hike. Approximately 1 mile after starting this section you will cross over Willow Creek which signals the beginning of the final climb to the designated camping area. This section is a grueling stretch of switchbacks across rocky terrain that continues for 1.5 miles along a shade-less and exposed mountainside. After this section of climbing the hike gets a little easier as you enter back into a forested area that provides cooler temps and some shade, although there is still a fair bit of climbing left. After about 0.5 miles you will encounter the first of the designated camping spots.

There are plenty of options available for campsites and some even come equipped with a pre-hung rope for a bear bag as well as a rock fire pit. It is recommended to stake your claim to a campsite early as this is a popular hike and the best spots can be claimed quickly. As you continue up the trail through the designated camping area you will come across a sign stating 'No camping beyond this point' which obviously indicates the end of the designated camping area (don't be the person who ignores this sign). Towards the tail-end of the designated camping area there is a scenic waterfall that cascades over the ridge and into Willow Creek, which provides easy access to water for purification. A quick scramble up a rocky portion of the trail will take you up to Willow Lake with views of the surrounding peaks. Adjacent to the lake is a small clearing (where people have illegally camped) that can be a nice spot to take in the views and/or enjoy a meal (and a lukewarm beer if you brought one). The trail continues for approximately 1 mile around the north end of the lake if you are seeking more seclusion.

Day 2 (varies)

We completed this hike as a 2 day/1 night trip but you may want to consider staying for a second night to appreciate the area more (especially if you got a late start on Day 1).

Day 3 (5.1 miles)

After getting a good nights rest (or two) simply follow the same route back to the trailhead. After getting past the rocky switchbacks, the hike is an easy and quick descent to the parking area. The short uphill just after the meadow at Willow Creek is the only significant climbing.

Best Time to Go:

The best time for hiking to Willow Lake is between April and September. In the early spring and summer an abundance of mosquitoes can be a nuisance. We completed this hike in early September and had zero issues with mosquitoes. Summer storms can make the stream crossings very difficult or impossible so it is important to not only pay attention to the forecast for your hike, but also the days leading up to it.

Good to Know:

Water

Although the trail loosely follows Willow Creek it rarely is convenient for refilling water during the hike, with the exception being the stream crossing at ~3.6 miles. It is recommended to carry plenty of water with you on your ascent so that you don’t have to filter water. Also, with little shade on the second half of the hike it can get quite hot in the afternoon so it is important to stay hydrated.

Once at the designated camping area, water is readily available near the waterfall that flows into Willow Creek. This is the recommended area for gathering water for filtering as the moving current helps keep away debris (leaves, bugs, etc).

Campsites

There are established campsites in the designated camping area that are available on a first-come first-served basis. Many of the campsites have rock fire pits and a few have pre-hung rope for bear bags adjacent to them. All of the campsites are in a wooded area that provides plenty of shade. Towards the eastern end of the designated camping area (near the waterfall) there is a sign that prohibits camping beyond that point. There is no camping allowed along the lake shore.

Fishing

Willow Lake is home to native Colorado River Cutthroat trout and provides ample shoreline to try your hand at fishing. Fishing licenses are available through the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website and cost $17.35 for a one day, non-resident license + $10.40 Annual Habitat Stamp (required with the purchase of the first hunting or fishing license of the ​season).

Wildlife

On this hike you are likely to encounter Big Horn Sheep and Mule Deer that have zero fear of humans. After eating our backpacking meals near the lake we sealed up our trash and extra hot sauce packets in a zip-lock bag and took a quick walk along the bank. Upon returning we found a deer rooting around and munching on an empty hot sauce packet. Be sure to promptly make any food items inaccessible. Several deer also had to be shooed away from our campsite at dusk.

Bear Safety

This hike takes place in bear country and it is important to be prepared for all possibilities. The National Park Service provides a good resource for traveling safely in bear country. The following guidelines can serve as a general safety plan:

• Carry bear spray. Bear spray has been proven to be very effective in deterring bears in the chance of an encounter.

• Don’t hike alone. If you are hiking alone be sure to make plenty of noise while hiking by clapping your hands, talking loudly to yourself, etc. This is especially important when traversing areas with obstructed views such as cresting hills, going around blind corners or passing through thick vegetation.

• Bring a bear bag and know how to use it. There are an abundance of trees that provide good enough access for hanging a bear bag. Keep all food, toiletries, trash, etc. in the bag when not in use.

Altitude Sickness

This hike takes place at significant elevation and it is important to be properly acclimated in order to avoid altitude sickness.