Trail to

MILLS - JEWEL - BLACK - BLUE + FROZEN LAKES

(click on any of the small pics to see the full size image)

Flo's favorite hike.

This is one of those hikes where you can turn back anywhere and still have had a great day, but the farther you go, the better it gets.

Mills is one of the prettiest lakes in the park, and not at all hard to get to. Like the Loch, it's about a mile of fairly easy hiking from the Mills/Loch Vale junction. The setting for Mills is spectacular with McHenry's and Long's Peaks, Pagoda and Chief's Head Mountains forming an incredible background.

Mills is one of the most popular destinations in the park, so expect lots of company. You don't have to go far to leave the crowds behind though. Jewel Lake is a very short distance beyond Mills. Pretty, but not spectacular. The really good stuff is farther up the trail.

Glacier Creek is cold, clear, and loaded with trout.

You'll know you're close to Black Lake when you get to beautiful Ribbon Falls.

Black Lake is a rough five miles from the trailhead, stark and rugged with some of the highest peaks in the park surrounding it.

The hike to Black is enough for most people, but a steep climb alongside it's inlet stream takes you to one of the most rugged, isolated areas of the park.

We've been back here three times. The first time was a beautiful hike to
Frozen Lake with Nancy and Rick.

Andy and I made it back here in '02, but were turned back when Andy was hit by a nasty case of altitude sickness on the way to Green Lake. Even without making it to Green, being in this rugged country and seeing the massive peaks from this angle made it a worthwhile hike.

We got to Blue Lake in '04. It's hard to find, the trail disappears and cairns seemed non-existant. We finally did some bush wacking and rock climbing in the direction we thought the lake was in and found it.

If getting there is half the fun, is going back the other half?

		Miles
Destination		From Trailhead		Elevation		Elevation Gain
Mills Lake		2.5		9,940'		700'
Jewel Lake		3		9,950'		710'
Ribbon Falls		4.5		10,570'		1,330'
Black Lake		4.7		10,620'		1,390'
Blue Lake		5.5		11,140'		1,900'
Frozen Lake		5.75		11,580'		2,340'