Colorado trails · Chicago Lakes Trail
A 5.8-mile out-and-back in Colorado, with 2,537 ft of climbing, topping out at 12,868 ft. Reaches Idaho Springs Reservoir and other lake/viewpoint destinations. Managed by USFS Clear Creek Ranger District.
Most of the climbing sits in the final third — 58% of the ascent, between mile 3.9 and mile 5.8.
Echo Lake Trailhead — parking nearby, restroom, water. 39.65638, -105.59586 · directions
On August 31, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:01 a.m., the sun rises at 6:29 a.m. and sets at 7:35 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 8:03 p.m. (MDT) — 13 h 06 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 11.6-mile round trip takes roughly 6 h 50 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 1:18 p.m. — 6 h 16 min before sunset.