Hiking Trails in Colorado | Big Molas Lake Trail

Trail Information

Trail Name: Big Molas Lake TrailBig Molas Lake Trail

Location: Silverton, Colorado

Date: July 17, 2016

Time at the Trail Head: 8:00 am

Trail Length: 1.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 55 feet

Elev. at Trail Head: 10,610 feet

# of Hikers Passed: 18

# of Mnt. Bikers Passed: 0

# of Horses Passed: 0

Mosquitoes: 10

Trail Research

I’m not sure why my daughter and I started out in Estes Park, Colorado and decided to drive up Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, on our Way to Silverton, Colorado, but it happened just that way. We love the area around Durango and Silverton and we though it would be nice to camp out and hike in the area so, we made the long trip across Colorado.

Hiking Trails in Colorado | Big Molas Lake Trail

Drive to the Trail

We started out our day in Estes Park, Colorado. The morning was gorgeous and we stopped for breakfast in Estes Park before hitting the road.

Estes Park Colorado

Estes Park is my kid’s favorite place to visit in Colorado, and I think it would be yours also if you visited.Estes Park, Colorado

We finally arrived in Colorado Springs, at the base of Pikes Peak and we were in for some incredible views as we headed up the mountain.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak

It’s a good idea to get there early as a lot of people like to make the drive up Pikes Peak during the summer.

Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak

We spent a short time on Pikes Peak before hitting the road again on the way to Silverton. We arrived at the campground late and pitched our tent with high hopes for a beautiful hike in the morning.

We woke up early and the day was beautiful. The mornings are always so peaceful in Colorado, so don’t miss out when you visit.

Our Day on the Trail

We woke up early and the day was beautiful. The mornings are always so peaceful in Colorado, so don’t miss out when you visit.

Big Molas Lake Trail

Big Molas Lake Trail

Big Molas Lake Trail

Big Molas Lake Trail

Big Molas Lake Trail

Big Molas Lake Trail

We didn’t make the entire hike down to the river but we did see some spectacular scenery on the section of the trail we did hike.

Molas Lake Trail

Molas Lake Trail

Molas Lake Trail

Molas Lake Trail

 

Molas Lake Trail

Molas Lake Trail

The mountains around Molas Lake and Silverton are just majestic.Molas Lake Trail

We didn’t spend a lot of time at Molas Lake on this trip as the monsoon season hit that day and it was nothing but rain in the forecast for the next week, so we set off for northern New Mexico, to the Latir Lakes, north of Red River, as the weather outlook was much better.

My daughter thought that New Mexico was all desert, but she would soon find out that norther New Mexico looks a lot like Colorado.

Northern New Mexico

Trail Recommendations

There are many trails in this area for all experience levels. The Colorado Trail even passes through here on the last section before reaching Durango.

The area is so beautiful and there is something here for everyone to enjoy.

Lessons Learned

We had many years of great fortune with the weather in Colorado but the last few years we have had more rain then we expected, so I would highly recommend a good tent that is sturdy and can handle the sunshine and the rain, plus some great hiking pants and waterproof boots.

prAna Men's Standard Stretch Zion Convertible, Charcoal, 33W x 30L
  • Package length: 26.924 cm
  • Package width: 26.67 cm
  • Package height: 4.826 cm
  • Package quantity: 1

I would love to know if you have had any experience on this trail or have other trails you love to hike. Leave a Comment Below or send me an Email.

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Big Molas Lake Trail

10

Scenic Drive

10.0/10

Accessibility

10.0/10

Mountain Views

10.0/10

Lake or Stream Views

10.0/10

Well Maintained Trails

10.0/10

Pros

  • Beautiful Lake
  • Animas River Near By
  • Incredible Mountain Views
  • Well Maintained Campground
  • Colorado Trail

Cons

  • It Can Be a Long Drive to Get Here

20 thoughts on “Hiking Trails in Colorado | Big Molas Lake Trail”

  1. Many thanks to you for sharing such a wonderful article with us .I love hiking and I went to Colorado with my daughter a while back .I started hiking in Estes Park, Colorado. My daughter and I love the area around Silverton .This park is very much liked by my daughter and she was impressed after the visit here .Northern New Mexico is so beautiful and I really enjoyed my daughter’s beauty here .And I went to a time when it was sunny, rainy. So we made the tent so that it could withstand the rain and withstand the sun .My daughter and I watched some fascinating scenes while on the Big Molas Lake Trail .

    Lastly I would like to say that our Big Molas Lake TrailBig Molas Lake Trail was wonderful and really enjoyed the trip as well so I wish I could spend my next vacation there and share our new experiences with you.

    Reply
  2. Hello, it is a great and nice feeling to know that someone will create a great website like this and also create a write up on an article like this. I dont get much time to hike in a year but then, the times I get, I try to make them spectacular and this is simply great to behold. Thanks so much for

    Reply
    • You are very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed the review and I hope you get a chance to visit Colorado or at least get out to trails where you live.

      Rick

      Reply
  3. Thanks Rick for writing a nice article about travel.After reading your article, hiking in Colombo attracts a lot of interest.The description of the Colorado Trail is really enjoyable.the Trail pictures are fantastic. The travel story that goes on in the journey to Silverton is really alluring, and I want to get there If there is time and opportunity I would like to go there and bring back some exciting memories of travel.I will share the article with some of my friends so they can go there and enjoy.

    Reply
    • I am glad you liked the article and the pictures. Let me know if you plan on traveling to Colorado and I can give you some more advice and even meet up for breakfast or lunch or even hit a trail together.

      Rick

      Reply
  4. What beautiful photography, what beautiful country!!! I especially love the view of the mountains in the distance, I can see why your children love Estes Park. It looks magical, like Disneyland even. Did you take the photos yourself? If so, you could put together a book online or in hardcover. The text is well written.

    I would have liked to have seen a  photo of you and the kids (“billy lids” we call them in Australia).

    Do you make new friends on these trips? I imagine you do.

    As a family, my father took us to New Zealand. While we were there we did the Milford Track. It was the longer version; four and a half days with a rest day on day 4. It rained almost the whole way but it was one of the best things we ever did as a family. And we made plenty of friends. At night there was plenty of socializing, playing cards and Scrabble and of course, the scenery during the day was enchanting. It was a 32-mile walk. Backpack and waterproof poncho were supplied. The most important thing to bring was a good pair of boots. And in such wet weather, the best choice, in my opinion, was heavy-duty gumboots. The type that under ground miners wear. 

    Colorado has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

    Reply
    • I take all of my own photos and videos and I only post trail reviews that I have personally gone on.

      We have made many friends out on the trail and I’m getting more and more people from my office who want to go hike with us.

      Colorado is a wonderful place to live and play.

      Rick

      Reply
  5. Many thanks to you for sharing such a beautiful article with us and for the opportunity to discuss a wonderful topic through this article. I agree with your writing about Hiking Trails in Colorado because a few days ago I and my husband went to Estes Park, Colorado. This place is really awesome. I think people who go to Estes Park, will go there more times.

    I think people who like Traveling will benefit greatly from reading your article. Very soon they will share their experiences and opinions with you.

    Thanks for the info. I will share the post with travel lovers.

    Reply

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