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A short and steep climb through pine forest to a beautiful alpine lake.


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Map Key

1.0

Miles

1.7

KM

Point to Point

11,625' 3,543 m

High

10,783' 3,287 m

Low

842' 257 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

15%

Avg Grade (9°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · Views

Overview

A bang-for-your-buck route, this trail is short and steep with a beautiful reward waiting at the end. For those looking for an afternoon excursion outside of Leadville, head out to this trailhead past Turquoise Lake on Hagerman Pass Rd (Forest Road 105).

Description

From the parking lot, head southwest across Busk Creek looking for the backcountry check-in. Continue south/southwest as the trail begins to climb up through the trees. There are some sections that are looser than others but manageable for most.

After the steepest section, the trail tops out at a small lake, which is beautiful in its own right but only an appetizer for the main course some 80 feet above. Continue up to the next plateau where Windsor Lake sits majestically below the loose, eroding cliffs. Find a spot to sprawl out and have a picnic lunch or unpack your hammock and tent for an overnight beneath the starts.

Flora & Fauna

Pine forest and wetland species surrounding the lake.

Contacts

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 12 votes

#1153

Overall
  4.6 from 12 votes
5 Star
67%
4 Star
25%
3 Star
8%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#231

in Colorado

#1,153

Overall
5 Views Last Month
1,836 Since Sep 26, 2016
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
10%
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80%
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Photos

Looking across Upper Windsor Lake.
Sep 26, 2016 near Leadvil…, CO
Cruising past Lower Windsor toward Upper Windsor Lake.
Sep 26, 2016 near Leadvil…, CO
Coming out to Lower Windsor Lake.
Sep 26, 2016 near Leadvil…, CO
Taking a break, its a tough hike!
Oct 13, 2023 near Leadvil…, CO
Heading up the Windsor Lake Trail with some fresh snow from an early (mid-September) storm.
Sep 26, 2016 near Leadvil…, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 92 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 25, 2022
Benjamin Algera
Aug 22, 2021
Ian McGee
It'll get ya if you ain't ready. 1 mi, pretty much straight up!
Sep 24, 2020
Private User
Jul 18, 2020
Michelle Heiliger
2.8mi
Jul 3, 2020
Isreli Reichman
Trail goes to the left after the creek by the mine.
Aug 25, 2019
Galen Garretson
1mi
Aug 17, 2019
Cory Spencer
3.5mi — 1h 47m
Jul 2, 2018
Pat Baron
Welcome

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