Colorado is something of a mecca for outdoor lovers. Containing virtually every outdoor sport and activity available within its borders. Just a few of the actives available in Colorado are: hiking, backpacking, climbing, cycling and skiing. Outdoorsman from all over make their way to the Centennial State to enjoy the states, especially astounding nature. One of the more popular places to visit is Hanging Lake, located just outside of Glenwood Springs.
Hanging Lake lies in the Glenwood Canyon, with its trailhead sitting about 10 miles east of Glenwood Springs. The trail is just under three miles round trip, but it’s rocky and steep the entire way up. The trail’s terrain means it’s especially important to wear appropriate footwear, with good traction.
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There are many large and interesting rock formations along the trail, Which makes this post excellent for spontaneous bouldering opportunities. The unique scenery provides endless, especially unique backdrops for photographers. After you reach Hanging Lake, you can proceed a bit higher on the trail to Spouting Rock, a waterfall created by snowmelt cascading from a hole in the cliff.
Glenwood Canyon is a travertine canyon, created by dissolved limestone deposited on logs and rocks. These logs and rocks washed up as high sea levels of the Mississippian Period began to recede. Hanging Lake itself is the product of an acre and a half of the valley floor shearing off from a fault line. The fault line ran right through Hanging Lake, dropping to become what is now the lake bottom. Dissolved limestone gives this lake its especially brilliant turquoise coloration.
Hanging Lake is a fragile ecosystem that can be easily damaged by foreign materials. It’s important to keep these rules in mind when visiting the park.
- No swimming or contact with any body part is allowed in the lake
- Pets are NOT allowed
- Lines out of the water, because there’s NO fishing
- Refrain from walking on the fallen trees across the lake
- No standing under and especially not on top of waterfalls
Check out this fantastic video, showing the surreal beauty of Hanging Lake. These are just a few of the truly unforgettable sights you’ll see once you get there! Take a look!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dkaN3OREvU]
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Featured Image from Intricate Explorer/Unsplash
