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Aspen Ranger District

Quick Facts

American Lake Trail

Average Time:	2 - 2 1/2 Hours
Beginning Elevation:	9,400 Feet (2865.1 Meters)
Difficulty:	Difficult
Elevation Gain:	1,965 Feet (598.9 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	11,365 Feet (3464.1 Meters)
Length:	3.2 Miles (5.1 Kilometers)
Other Maps:	Trails Illustrated 127 Aspen, Independence Pass
Recommended Season:	Summer to Fall
Trail Number:	1985
Usage:	Heavy
USGS Maps:	Hayden Peak

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

Copyright: Amy Pyle-Interactive Outdoors, Inc.
The hike to American Lake is one of the most accessible in the Aspen Ranger District

From the trailhead, the trail heads downvalley for a short distance to a trail junction. The trail to the lake takes off at a right angle at the junction. The trail rises steeply, switchbacking for about 1-1/2 miles through an Aspen grove before reaching spruce trees where the trail levels a bit. Continue to a large meadow, stay along the lower side of the meadow, turning southward, and reenter the forest. The trail will rise gently, approximately 1/2 mile before the lake, the trail crosses a rock slide area. The trail arrives near the lake's outlet.

Directions from Aspen: Drive 1/2 mile west of Aspen on Highway 82. At the roundabout, turn onto Castle Creek Road. Drive 10 miles to the Elk Mountain Lodge. There is parking on the right where the trailhead begins.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: Memorial Day Weekend through September (NOTE: Access to this trail may be prevented due to snow early in the season.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Winter Conditions. Beware of avalanche danger and hypothermia. Updated: 2002-12-23 14:35:00.0

Ranger TipGet an early start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. Wear sunblock to avoid severe sunburn

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Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: steep trail in good condition; great views all along; excellent birding opportunities in spruce forest on flats
Conditions: large snowpiles still block trail in flats, did not reach lake.

Filed By: Pamela Schilling (Carbondale, CO)
Number of People Encountered: 11-25 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Neutral
Report: This was a beautiful, but steep, hike through an incredible aspen grove, then through pine forest to the lake with several meadows along the way. Wildflowers at their peak - mosquitos and deer flies, also. The lake was a great place for a lunch. Biggest reward, besides the incredibl lake view, was finding a Monument Plant (green gentian) at one point on the trail.
Conditions: Hot, dry, dusty. Breeze at the lake kept the bugs at bay.
Water Availability: Not much water once you start up the switchbacks, until you get to the lake.

Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: a few small snow fields leading up to the lake but nothing difficult to walk through. I wore sneakers and didn't have any problem.

Number of People Encountered: 0-10 ppl
Recommend to a Friend: Highly
Report: Trail still under a great deal of snow.