Blue Lakes Colorado - Hiking from Ridgway AND Yankee Boy Basin to Blue Lakes Pass from Ouray
Blue Lakes Colorado - Hiking from Ridgway AND Yankee Boy Basin to Blue Lakes Pass from Ouray
Tina and I recently got back from Colorado. While we were there, we had to hike one of our favorite trails; the Blue Lakes Trail. The 'traditional' Blue Lakes Trail starts from Blue Lakes Trailhead Road, just outside of Ridgway, Colorado. The road is accessible to any vehicle and no permits are required. You can camp by the trailhead, or backpack up to any of the three lakes. The hike starts going up immediately, and doesn't stop for about 3 1/2~3 3/4 miles when you reach the first lake. This is where camping is first allowed (although no fires); in a wooded area just below the lake. You can continue up to two lakes that are higher (600~700 ft) and also camp there. Or, if you're REALLY feeling it, you can continue up even higher to Blue Lakes Pass.
We weren't feeling it.
However, the following day, after finishing the Ouray Via Ferrata, we decided to drive up from that side to Yankee Boy Basin. Yankee Boy Basin was absolutely beautiful. The road is shown in the video and is accessible to about any vehicle for a while. It eventually gets rough and requires 4WD, and then even rougher, requiring 4WD high clearance with a short wheelbase. But if you don't have that type of vehicle, don't let it discourage you. You can still get quite a ways up the road and the scenery is still worth it.
We parked at the lower Blue Lakes Pass trailhead (upper will cut some mileage and elevation gain off your hike but the road gets very rough) and started hiking. After a bit, you will come to Wright's Lake, which is also the upper trailhead. Continue on up to the pass, for a total hike of about 3 1/2 miles and 1,200~1,300 feet of elevation gain and loss. The pass gives an incredible view of the two upper Blue Lakes, as well as Mount Sneffels and Yankee Boy Basin. It's simply incredible and definitely worth the effort.
Shot on Gopro 8, Canon EOS R
Music Licensed from www.epidemicsound.com
Breath - Ooyy
A Better One - Nickolas Jones
Weather Any Storm - Cody Francis
Easy to Be Us - Alder
Lucky Bird - River Run Dry
Hello Ramona - Solar Sun
Jchs - Cospe
Rev Run - HDBeenDope
Пікірлер: 43
I drove up to where you guys parked with my Smart car. A few years later went up to the highest parking lot with my Suburban. No problem with either one.
That was a Genius idea for a shot @ 11:51 That was super smooth
@JerryArizona
Жыл бұрын
And sketchy! Holding that camera stead while moving forward on that terrain was challenging, for real.
I did sneffles in 2013. Great video guys!
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Sneffles looked rough. That chute and loose rocks/scree didn't look simple at all.
When we did Blue Lakes we only saw two other people. From a distance.
So beautiful! If music is played I prefer soft gentle music...just sayin.
Blue Lakes and then Sneffels up the Southwest Ridge was a great hike! Awesome views from the top of Sneffels
Amazing day! And those views! Epic!
I would have baptised myself in that chilly blue water.. utmost love and respect to you both and please keep enjoying and sharing your dream lives and locations!!
Love the trail highlight on the map at the start!
I was in that area a few years ago - thanks for taking me back!
Beautiful views! Love the gorgeous blue color of the lake! We used to do some hard core rock crawling in our old Toyota 4 Runner. We had some scary close calls but the scenery in the High Sierras was worth it. I was so glad once we made it back down again, though. And it was really hard on our aging bodies, bouncing around in our truck for hours on end. I was kind of glad when we finally decided to sell it.
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Oh my god. We are not off roaders, for sure. The Alpine Loop was absolutely terrifying.
You guys are great! Even when you’re not feelin’ it - hike and film! And as always, no BS. Just great views and neat info for someone who may want to go experience these areas/hikes.
So beautiful up there! Perfect timing with the video👍🏼 I’m going for Mount Sneffels next year😁... hopefully your achilles injury is better
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
I'm getting by. Sneffels looked SUPER steep and a bunch of loose scree in the chute. But beautiful. Can't imagine the views from the top.
Great video! Till 2019 I used to go to Colorado twice every year for hiking. In more than 20 years you can imagine how many trails I took. I really hope we'll be entitled to travel to US from Europe soon. You guys meantime made me dream!
@JerryArizona
2 жыл бұрын
COVID really messed up travel plans, huh? Hopefully you'll be able to get back soon. Colorado is beautiful. We're just scratching the surface too. Most of our hikes are in Arizona and Utah.
@d8889
2 жыл бұрын
@@JerryArizona Arizona and Utah are breathtaking. I took along the years a few trails there as well but I cannot compare the number to my above 300 trails taken in Colorado. . The San Juan Mountains are the best you can find in Colorado but consider the area around Frisco/Dillon/Breckenridge too
What an amazing edit, this is so inspiring, I’m moving to Colorado in less than a month and I’m more excited than you could imagine. I plan on snowboarding and stuff, yet I want to have cool areas to check out once I get there. Love the energy I’m now a subscriber btw Awesome video 🤟🏽
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Colorado is amazing. Heading up there again soon. You will love it.
@rayray4192
Жыл бұрын
Just remembered the name of the hot springs in Ridgeway Colorado- Orvis. I still have the t- shirt. It’s developed and clothing is optional. Massage yurt is nice.
I was sad that the cold season was coming on BEFORE I watched this! Damn - I want to go hiking! This is great footage - thanks for posting it.
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Layers are your friend! We used to only hike in the warmer months, but I got so grouchy during the winter, we had to figure out winter backpacking and hiking. Maybe not the same in AZ as CO, but we drive up there during the summer, so you can always drive down here (or to UT or NM) during the winter.
Glad to see you back on your feet!
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately, this was from before the injury. But I'll be back out this weekend....More because I'm going crazy than because I'm healed up.
@cyruscrossan
3 жыл бұрын
@@JerryArizona Be safe now!
You are cranking out the videos! :)
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
Got a bit of a backlog, but it's dwindling fast. Hopefully I can start getting back out there this weekend. I'm going crazy.
Oh man, bummer about Gnar being closed!! Absolutely my favorite taco place, go to the one in Ridgway all the time!
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
I think we ate there three meals in a row last time we were in Ridgway.
What, Jerry? You did not go up (or down) to Middle and Upper Lakes. Next time, go there when wildflowers are blooming. Have fun! 🙂
Can you drive to the lake?
@JerryArizona
2 жыл бұрын
You can't drive any closer than the upper part of the side from Yankee Boy Basin, but then you'd have a long climb down to the lake and then back up to your truck. 100% foot traffic from the other side where we parked.
That Jeep on its top at 7:10 was your cue to turn around🥴. Kind of like when you walk into a spooky mansion and a voice whispers “get out”. Tina wins the best comment with “We could’ve totally driven up here”. Awesome views and video dude. Are you healed now or was this filmed prior to the injury?
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
This was from before the injury. Luckily, I had a decent back log of adventures. But I'll be back out next weekend. That jeep is from another video that's coming up. Unfortunately, once we got to the point where we realized that road was more than we signed up for, turning around was not an option. Technical off roading is not and will never be a hobby of ours.
There’s that finger again. 😱
@JerryArizona
3 жыл бұрын
And I feel this was undeserved for a change.
Did you go to the Ridgeway Hot Springs? Tina could curse the hot water in the “ Lobster Pot.”
@JerryArizona
Жыл бұрын
We have not, but I'll definitely look into it. Haven't been to a hot spring in a long time.
@rayray4192
Жыл бұрын
@@JerryArizona Ridgeway Colorado. Or is Hot Spring. A developed hot spring with massage yurt. Really relaxing. 77 miles north of Ouray Colorado. I go and soak after skiing Telluride.Orvis Hot Springs is about 5-10 miles south of Ridgeway itself.
@JerryArizona
Жыл бұрын
@@rayray4192 Gotcha. Next time we're there we'll try to check it out.