Location: San Juan Mountains
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Outside Silverton, turnoff just out of town on Hwy. 550
Time: Approximately 1 hour, one-way. Only 5 miles.
Trail Description
I drove this for the first time in the fall of 2009 and it has easily become one of my top 5 favorite trails. The payoff at the end of the trail is higher than almost any other trail I’ve ever driven.
You get to the trail by heading toward Silverton on Highway 550 and turning off on County Road 7, which is about 2 miles outside Silverton. You’ll pass several campgrounds and at around 3.7 miles you’ll see a sign for Clear Lake County Road 12. (staying to the left takes you to the Bandora Mine). At around 7.8 miles you’ll see a small lake and think you’ve reached Clear Lake…but going just a bit further will immediately convince you how wrong you were! Clear Lake sneaks into view and you know you’ve reached the end of the line. Clear Lake is nestled in a high bowl near the tops of the mountain peaks and the turquoise color of the water is so stunning you will feel like your eyes are popping out of your head. There’s a parking lot at the top and when I was there, everyone was enjoying their lunch and taking photos of the water.
Photo Opp: The lake is eye-popping, so be sure to take lots of photos!
Hi JeepsterGal! I really enjoy your videos. My friends and I are considering a trip to the Silverton/Ouray area in mid-July and were wondering about the road up to the Ice Lake trailhead/South Mineral Campground. Can a regular 2WD car make it to the campground parking? What is the road iike? Thanks!
Oh yeah, it’s 2WD accessible up to the Campground and then a but farther to Ice Lake. It’s just a dirt road to the campground. It’s also just a well-maintained dirt road to Ice Lake, but you do start climbing up the mountain to get there, but a passenger car will have no problem reaching it! Have fun!
Hello! I’m the editor for Colorado.com. I’m considering writing an article about Clear Lake, and I’d love to use one of your beautiful photos if you’d allow it. Let me know. Thanks!
Oh Thank You so much, Jeepster Gal ! I was pouting because I wanted to go to
Alberta, Canada, to see the turquoise Lakes up there, but we’re going to Colorado (which I love also).
Thanks to you, I discovered Clear Lake and I can still see a beautiful turquoise lake and be in
my beloved Colorado at the same time ! Are there any other glacial blue-type Lakes (aqua/turquoise)
that you know of in Colorado that are accessible by SUV on roads/off roads that are not too difficult ?
We will drive to Clear Lake, but would be interested in any other lakes like this you can recommend also.
We both have knee replacements, so hiking is out. Thanks again for making our trip so much more
exciting & lovely ! I’ve heard of Lower Blue Lake (Ouray/Sneffels Wilderness), which looks amazing, but
I’ve been told it’s not reachable by any off roads/Jeep. Wonderful videos, I enjoyed them all !
Happy travels, Sally O.
Hi and thanks for watching! Yes, Blue Lake is only accessible by trail. I will have to look through some of my offroad books for other lakes. I’ve seen plenty of high-altitude lakes, but none have been as amazing as Clear Lake. there was one off a road in the Crested Butte area, but I’ll have to look at my trail books to see if I can remember where it was…
Emerald Lake is North of Crested Butte, not too far, on Gothic Road. It is not above timberline, but it is nestled in a beautiful little valley, and the water is stunning!
Yes! That was it! Gothic Road..it’s close to the summit if I remember correctly, with pines around it and it’s spectacular! Thank you Gordon!
Going to the Durango/Silverton area for 10 days in July to do some motorcycle riding and will have my 4X4 Suburban 2500 and was thinking of taking the drive to clear lake and the Ophir Pass to see some back country scenery since we will not be able to tke the Harley’s out that way. I have seen the videos that you have posted on the internet, but my question is… Is the Suburban to big to take these roads? The main one we would really like to do is the one to Clear Lake.
Thanks.
Carl
I think you will be fine. I’ve seen very large trucks on Ophir. Clear Lake is an easier road that Ophir, so I think you’ll be ok. Have fun!
Hi
Going to go to Clear Lake in my Jeep in mid September. Have tried to get up there in two previous Junes but was stopped by deep snow.
1. When does it typically get snowed in in fall?
2. I’ll bring my kayak. Any trout in Clear Lake?
Thanks
Mark
You should be able to get up there through the end of September, unless they have an early snow. First week of October I’m guessing would be too late. I doubt there are any trout at that elevation, but I really don’t know, to be honest. It’s quite high in altitude. Have fun! It’s a great trail.