Trail Information
- Area: Indian Peaks Wilderness – Hell Canyon – Round Lake
- Trailhead: Roaring Fork
- Dates: 9/18/2020 – 9/20/2020
- Length: ~11 miles in/out
- Difficulty: Moderately Difficult
I loved the area so much I needed to explore more of it. While browsing satellite images, I came across a smaller lake with no trail leading to it that looked inviting: Round Lake. After much deliberation with looking at topos and various maps, I decided to pick a route – the wrong route, as shown below, but got there nonetheless. As always, it’s tough to determine best routes without actually being there. Topo maps can only show you show much, but cliffs or impassible areas seem to be difficult to discovery from bird’s eye view.
A few routes that look feasible were the following:
Green Route: I originally took this one to get there. I wanted to come in from the top, but was afraid I’d be stuck on top of that cliff. Green route looked easy, until the last few hundred yards. It gets relatively steep, first downhill, then up. Then it’s definitely a scramble the last 30 yards right up to the lake. Not ideal with a 40+ pound pack on your back.
Blue Route: Once on top, there seemed to be a trail that led down the hill to the main trail. The reason I didn’t want to go this way was because there’s a steep down grade into the valley, only to have to hike up about 1,000 feet elevation to the lake. Seemed like a waste of energy: however, there’s potential not to get cliffed out or have to do any class 3 hiking.
Pink Route: Preferred route, and the one I took home. A little bit of steepness class 2 like hiking between Round Lake and “Upper Round Lake,” but easily doable once the route is scoped out. Really only one or two ways down to Round Lake, but everything else was simple. Plus it boasts much better views. Once you pass over the saddle into Hell Canyon, best way is just to hike off trail and start hiking up and over to the lakes. See pink route on topo map below.
Once at lake, I only saw campsites #1 & #2 and decided on #1. I liked #2, as it was right on running water, but weather didn’t seem great and it was fairly exposed. Hence heading over to #1 for a larger site with more trees. After exploring a bit the following morning, I decided I really liked the location of #3 and moved my camp. It’s larger, higher up, displays better views and had more coverage for the rain to come. #2 could fit a small tent, #1 possible 2 tents and #3 could fit about 3 within a 15-yard radius.
Next time I head up there, I’ll probably try camping at “Upper Round Lake,” more of a pond really, but ample water to drink and better views of Indian Peaks Wilderness. Both sites #4 & #5 looked great and could fit maybe two tents each. The rock garden around the pond looked really fun, and easy to bask on in the summer time. And just enough trees for a hammock or two. Also for my next trip up if weather permits it, Hiamovi Mountain looks to be a good day hike. Trail looks easy from the back side if you’re already up there camping.
