Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak is a beautiful backpacking trip that traverses through Colorado‘s Indian Peaks Wilderness. With its stunning mountain scenery, reflective alpine lakes, and relatively close proximity to Denver and Boulder, Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak belong on your backpacking bucket list.
There are a number questions to ask when planning to backpack this trail. What month should I hike? How many days do I need? Do I need a permit or reservation?
This guide answers commonly asked questions and breaks down how to plan your backpacking trip to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak in 10 simple steps.
How to Plan Your Backpacking Trip to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak in 10 Simple Steps
1. Decide when to hike
What is the best time of year to hike to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak? Summer is the best time of year to hike to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak. The trail is typically free of snow from late July through September so it is best to plan your trip during these months. The exact timing of the snow melt changes each year so be sure to call the rangers station or check the online US Forest Service ranger reports for trail conditions. For information and reviews of the trail from recent hikers, check out AllTrails (Monarch Lake Trailhead or Long Lake Trailhead).
2. Choose the number of days for your hike
How many days are needed for to hike to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak? 2 days, 1 night is the ideal amount of time for the hike to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak. By backpacking over 2 days, you’ll have enough time to enjoy the scenery, take lots of photos, and take cover in the afternoon when there is a higher risk of thunderstorms.
Some hikers opt to do the trail as a 1 day out-and-back day hike. While it can be done, we recommend backpacking if possible. In general, the day trip is typically done by those who unfortunately weren’t able to get backpacking permits. The trail is 14.9 miles and 2,322 ft in elevation gain from Monarch Lake Trailhead and 17.1 miles and 4,760 ft in elevation gain from Long Lake Trailhead, which makes for a long day if day hiking. Also, if you’re day hiking, you’ll have limited options to take cover from the common afternoon thunderstorms. (During our Lone Eagle backpacking trip in July, it rained and hailed for 2 hours in the afternoon. We were very glad to have a tent to take shelter in.)
If you do the day hike, be sure to start early to avoid being at high elevations in the afternoon when thunderstorms are common.
3. Pick your starting trailhead
What are the Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak trailhead options? There are two main trailhead options for the Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak:
- Monarch Lake Trailhead near Granby (west of the Continental Divide)
- Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area (east of the Continental Divide near Boulder).
The AllTrails map below shows the Cascade Creek Trail from the Monarch Lake Trailhead to Mirror & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak.
This AllTrails map shows the Pawnee Pass Trail from Long Lake Trailhead to Mirror & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak.
We recommend the Monarch Lake Trailhead over the Long Lake Trailhead. Here are some things to consider when choosing a trailhead:
- Trail Stats: Starting from the Monarch Lake Trailhead and hiking along Cascade Creek Trail is the easier route in terms of mileage and elevation. The trail from Monarch Lake is 14.9 miles and 2,322 ft in elevation gain, whereas the trail from Long Lake Trailhead is 17.1 miles and 4,760 ft in elevation gain.
- Snow Potential: The trail from Monarch Lake is typically less impacted by snow given the lower overall elevation. The highest elevation along the route from Monarch Lake is at the destination – Crater Lake, elevation ~10,300 feet. From Long Lake Trailhead, hikers must climb Pawnee Pass, elevation ~12,500 feet. Snow at higher elevations can linger until late July.
- Driving Time: Monarch Lake is located west of the Continental Divide, about 2 hours and 15 minutes from Denver. Long Lake Trailhead is east of the Continental Divide and 1.5 hours from Denver. In order to start your hike early in the morning (which is highly recommended in order to get parking, have shade on your hike, and avoid being on the move during afternoon thunderstorms), you may want to consider driving to the area and stay somewhere nearby the night before your backpacking start date.
- Parking: Parking reservations aren’t required for Monarch Lake Trailhead, though a parking fee is required. America the Beautiful Interagency Passes are accepted. Since parking is not reserved, be sure to arrive early to snag a spot. Parking reservations ARE REQUIRED for Long Lake Trailhead. Long Lake overnight parking reservations can be made here on the Recreation.gov website after you secure your overnight camping permit.
NOTE: Indian Peaks Wilderness Overnight Backpacking Permit reservations are required in addition to any parking reservations you may need. When making the backpacking permit reservation, you’ll need to indicate your entry and exit points, so be sure to choose your trailhead ahead of time. More information on making these overnight backpacking reservations are in the permit booking section of this post below.
ANOTHER NOTE: Snow can impact the opening date of Long Lake Trailhead. In 2023, the upper trailhead parking lots of the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, which includes Long Lake Trailhead parking, did not open until well after July 4th due to the snowpack. (Reservations had been available for the holiday weekend dates, but the reservations were cancelled only a few days beforehand.) If you’re hiking in early in the season (before the end of July), your best bet would to use the Monarch Lake Trailhead to avoid a last minute parking reservation cancellation.
4. Decide which backcountry zone to camp in
What is the best backcountry zone to camp in for Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak? There are 2 main backcountry zones along the trail to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak:
- Crater Lake Backcountry Zone
- Cascade Creek Backcountry Zone
The best place to camp is in the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone because it has the closest campsites to Mirror Lake and Crater Lake. The Crater Lake Backcountry Zone has 12 designated campsites. While you must reserve a permit for the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone, the individual campsite numbers within the zone cannot be reserved. The designated campsites are first come, first served for Crater Lake Backcountry Zone permit holders. Camping in non-designated sites is prohibited.
If you are unable to get a Crater Lake Backcountry Zone permit, you could opt to reserve a permit for the Cascade Creek Backcountry Zone. Note that the boundary of this zone is a half mile or more from Crater Lake and Mirror Lake one way.
During prime hiking season, you must have a permit to camp in the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone or the Cascade Creek Backcountry Zone. Information on how to book permits is coming up next!
5. Book your permits (backpacking and, if needed, parking)
Do I need a permit for backpacking to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak? Yes, overnight backpacking permits are required and must be reserved in advance for the prime hiking season. More details on overnight backpacking permits are available here on the US Forest Service website.
Permits can be booked a full season in advance through Recreation.gov. These full season in advance permits are released in March and sell out quickly. Permits may also be booked 3 days in advance through Recreation.gov.
When booking, you’ll need to select the starting area. Select “West of the Continental Divide,” then find Crater Lake Backcountry Zone (our preference) or Cascade Creek Backcountry Zone from the list. Once you find an available date, you’ll need to indicate your entry and exit points. Select Monarch Lake (our preference) or Long Lake.
Next, indicate if you’re bringing any llamas along (yes, that’s an actual permit input option!). Then book!
If you are starting at the Long Lake Trailhead and parking there, you will need to book overnight parking permits as well. Long Lake Overnight Parking Permits can be reserved here through Recreation.gov.
6. Gear Up
When making a gear list for backpacking Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak, including everything you need while minimizing pack weight is an art! See our packing list for backpacking Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak for tips on what gear to bring on your trip.
If you are getting new gear or trying new food, be sure to test it out before hitting the trail.
7. Train
Carrying a backpack at altitude is a heck of a workout. Hiking to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak will be much more enjoyable if your body is prepared for it. Try incorporating exercises that emphasize cardio, legs, and core into your routine.
8. Brush up on backpacking safety
Before your trip, take time to brush up on your backpacking safety knowledge.
- Wildlife: Brush up on what to do in the event of a wildlife encounter (NPS Bear Safety, NPS Moose Safety).
- Food Storage: Any scented items, including food, must be stored in an approved bear resistant container. Guidelines for approved bear resistant containers are available here.
- Weather: Check the weather before your hike and keep an eye on the skies while on the trail, especially when climbing up a mountain pass. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons so plan to hike the mountain pass in the morning in order to avoid being exposed at high elevation during a thunderstorm. If a storm is rolling in, do not hike up a mountain pass. Take shelter at lower elevation until after the storm. Be aware of what to do in the case of severe weather (NPS Lightning Safety).
- Altitude: Prepare for the altitude. Be sure to hydrate, especially prior to your hike. If you’re a lowlander, acclimate to the altitude by spending time at altitude before starting your hike.
- Communicate: Tell family or friends your plan and leave an itinerary under the seat of your car.
- Bugs: In addition to bug spray like DEET or Picaridin, we recommend applying a Permethrin spray treatment on your backpack, clothes, and tent prior to you trip to help keep mosquitoes and ticks away.
9. If your permit is in the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone, plan on which designated campsites to target
What is the best designated campsite in the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone near Lone Eagle Peak in Indian Peaks Wilderness? In our opinion, the best campsites are campsites 4 and 5.
Crater Lake Backcountry Zone Designated Campsites
If you were lucky enough to snag a permit for the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone, you’ll be camping in one of the 12 designated campsites near beautiful Mirror Lake and Crater Lake. While you must book a permit for the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone, the individual campsite numbers within the zone cannot be reserved. The specific campsites are first come, first served for Crater Lake Backcountry Zone permit holders. (Camping in non-designated sites is prohibited.)
We recommend having a general idea of campsites you would like to target so you can minimize the amount of back and forth hiking you do along the spurs to the campsites. While you may not get your first choice, you can at least have a general heading towards certain clusters of campsites.
Finding the Designated Campsites
The campsites are marked by numbered, wooden plaques mounted to posts or trees. The campsites can be very difficult to locate so be sure to download a map of the Crater Lake Backcountry Zone campsites before your trip.
The Best Designated Campsites
We camped in site number 5 and looked at all 12 campsites in the area to compare. Our favorite campsites were numbers 4 and 5. Oddly enough, campsites 4 and 5 are not as popular as some of the other sites, which is a good thing since it means you’ll be more likely to claim one of them. From what we’ve heard, campsites 12 and 7 are the most popular.
Campsites 4 and 5 were our favorites because they are relatively close to the water and they are the closest campsites to the iconic views of Lone Eagle Peak reflected in Mirror Lake. .
When we hiked around the area and looked at the other campsites, we thought the campsites at Crater Lake were a little too close to Lone Eagle Peak to be able to soak in the whole view. Some of the Crater Lake campsites were fairly far uphill from the water too, which we don’t prefer.
Getting to Campsites 4 and 5
Keep in mind that getting to campsite 5 requires a water crossing. Late in the season, the crossing is minimal, but early season snow melt can make for high water levels. During our early July trip, the water level was high and the crossing was a bit precarious, especially with a backpack on. A fallen tree with a few inconveniently placed branches served as our bridge. If you are uncomfortable with the crossing, head for campsite 4, which is located up on the rocks just before the water crossing.
10. Get out there and enjoy your hike!
You’ve planned like crazy, you’ve trained, and your bags are packed – now it’s time to hit the trail! We hope you enjoy backpacking to Mirror Lake & Crater Lake at Lone Eagle Peak as much as we did. Have an amazing trip!
______________
For more information to help you plan your backpacking trip, check out our Lone Eagle Peak packing list and gear guide. For more Colorado hiking inspiration, visit our Colorado Travel Guide.
Related Posts:
- The Ultimate Gear List for Backpacking Colorado’s Crater Lake & Mirror Lake at Lone Eagle Peak
- The Ultimate Gear List for Backpacking Colorado’s Four Pass Loop
- 4 Day Itinerary for Backpacking the Four Pass Loop