This was an absolutely gorgeous hike. I cannot say enough about the scenery and the lakes themselves. Crystal clear waters, and they look just like glass.
The hike begins on the western side of Independence Pass near Aspen. There are two (2) trailheads in the area, one leading to these lakes and one to Lost Man Reservoir. Don't take the latter, as you are about 6 miles from Lost Man Lake there (Lake versus Reservoir).
It is a short hike to Independence Lake, about 2.5 miles. It is pretty uneventful, not a whole lot of vertical gain either. This lake is situated in a bowl with steep sides on the other three (3) sides. Looking back down the trail offers great views of the mountains, like Grizzly Peak.
To get to Lost Man Lake from here, you have to go over Lost Man Pass. This makes it a tough climb, gaining about 700 feet in only about 1.0 mile. Once you summit the pass, you drop down a couple hundred feet to the lake. This lake is also surrounded by steep cliffs on three (3) sides, one of them you just came down! This is the least beautiful of the two (2) lakes, but well worth the trip. The fishing at both lakes was less than great, I really didn't even see a fish or a rise. They may be shallow enough to winter kill.
Overall, both lakes provide great photo opportunities, so this should be enough for some of you. I wouldn't try these hikes until at least mid-July, as Lost Man is at about 12,500 feet in elevation.