A Visit to Columbine Lake

Relaxing at Columbine Lake

The lazy melancholy atmosphere of autumn has arrived in the high country… the tundra is golden brown, the air has a crisp edge, and the marmots have either burrowed into their holes or retreated to lower elevations. Yesterday we went out for a quick overnighter at Columbine Lake, in the San Juans of Colorado, to savor some time up high before the winter snows cover the tundra for another nine months.

Colorado,Columbine Lake,San Juan Mountains, sunrise, September, Lookout Peak
Sunrise at Columbine Lake : Prints Available

Sunrise light on Lookout Peak (13,661 ft.) above Columbine Lake – September.

Colorado,Columbine Lake,San Juan Mountains, September
The brilliant blue waters of Columbine Lake on a bluebird September morning.

2 thoughts on “A Visit to Columbine Lake

  1. Absolutely mesmerized by your photographs! Are there any specific 20-30 mile hikes you would recommend? Any advice would be much appreciated!

    1. Hi Tyler, thanks for your message and compliment! For a hike of that length in the San Juans, I’d point you to the Weminuche or Uncompahgre Wilderness areas. Both areas have a plethora of potential long trail combinations. Just pick up the Trails Illustrated Topo maps for those areas and you can map out a route to your liking. You can’t go wrong, it’s all spectacular!

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