Hanging Lake
Encyclopedia
Hanging Lake is a lake in the U.S. State of Colorado. It is located in Glenwood Canyon
, about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado
and is a very popular tourist destination. The lake is reached via a trailhead located near I-70 in the bottom of the canyon. The trail follows Dead Horse Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River
and ascends some 1,000 feet.
In the years following the area served as a homestead, and a private family retreat until it was purchased by Glenwood Springs after the Taylor Bill was passed by Congress in 1910.
Following the purchase it began its long history as a public tourist stop, and later during the 1940s hosted a resort and cafe until the construction of Interstate-70 began in 1968.
In 1972 the trail and the lake were returned to the protection of the Forest Service as part of the White River National Forest
, and has been an increasingly popular tourist destination since.
In 2011 the lake was named a National Natural Landmark
by Secretary of the Interior
Ken Salazar
.
, created when dissolved limestone from the Mississippian aged Leadville Formation (through which the Dead Horse Creek flows) is deposited on rocks and logs, creating travertine layers.
The oils from human skin speed along the erosion of the travertine so it is suggested that hikers not wade in the water in an effort to help preserve the lake for future generations.
For similar Travertine influenced scenery in Europe
see Plitvice Lakes National Park which is a World Heritage Site
, .
From there, it is a 1.2 mile climb in what the Forest Service calls a "difficult" trail. Hikers are advised to bring enough water (minimum one liter per hiker is advised, additional on hotter days). The trail is quite steep in some areas areas and requires hikers to traverse very rocky areas. It meanders alongside a stream originating from the lake. There are very few level spots on the trail. Good hiking boots or shoes are a must; and in winter a staff or walking sticks will assist greatly.
Glenwood Canyon
Glenwood Canyon is a rugged scenic canyon on the Colorado River in western Colorado in the United States. Its canyon walls climb as high as above the Colorado River. It is the largest such canyon on the Upper Colorado...
, about 7 miles east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
The City of Glenwood Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Garfield County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated that the city population was 8,564 in 2005...
and is a very popular tourist destination. The lake is reached via a trailhead located near I-70 in the bottom of the canyon. The trail follows Dead Horse Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
and ascends some 1,000 feet.
History
Early tales of the discovery of the lake tells of a man searching for gold in the canyon when the Colorado River was called the Grand River. The man found a dead horse at the opening of a gulch (the possible origin of Dead Horse Gulch). When he followed the gulch up through the steep hillside through the canyon he came around the backside of the lake. This is how he first saw the small bowl-like basin hanging onto the cliffs below.In the years following the area served as a homestead, and a private family retreat until it was purchased by Glenwood Springs after the Taylor Bill was passed by Congress in 1910.
Following the purchase it began its long history as a public tourist stop, and later during the 1940s hosted a resort and cafe until the construction of Interstate-70 began in 1968.
In 1972 the trail and the lake were returned to the protection of the Forest Service as part of the White River National Forest
White River National Forest
White River National Forest is a National Forest in northwest Colorado. It is named after the White River that passes through it. It also contains the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, largely considered the birthplace of the U.S...
, and has been an increasingly popular tourist destination since.
In 2011 the lake was named a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
by Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
Ken Salazar
Ken Salazar
Kenneth Lee "Ken" Salazar is the current United States Secretary of the Interior, in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a United States Senator from Colorado from 2005 to 2009. He and Mel Martinez were the first Hispanic U.S...
.
Travertine
The fragile shoreline of Hanging Lake is composed of travertineTravertine
Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, and cream-colored varieties. It is formed by a process of rapid precipitation of calcium carbonate, often at the mouth of a hot...
, created when dissolved limestone from the Mississippian aged Leadville Formation (through which the Dead Horse Creek flows) is deposited on rocks and logs, creating travertine layers.
The oils from human skin speed along the erosion of the travertine so it is suggested that hikers not wade in the water in an effort to help preserve the lake for future generations.
For similar Travertine influenced scenery in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
see Plitvice Lakes National Park which is a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, .
Hiking The Trail To Get To The Lake
The Hanging Lake trail begins at the end of the bike path which begins at the Hanging Lake Rest Stop (Exit 125 on I-70 EASTBOUND ACCESS ONLY. Visitors coming from Denver must exit at MP 121 and turn around). The bike trail is approximately 1/2 mile in length and raises in elevation approximately 1000 ft .From there, it is a 1.2 mile climb in what the Forest Service calls a "difficult" trail. Hikers are advised to bring enough water (minimum one liter per hiker is advised, additional on hotter days). The trail is quite steep in some areas areas and requires hikers to traverse very rocky areas. It meanders alongside a stream originating from the lake. There are very few level spots on the trail. Good hiking boots or shoes are a must; and in winter a staff or walking sticks will assist greatly.
External links
- Hanging Lake Trail - US Forest Service information and map
- Hanging Lake — a fragile paradise at The Aspen Times
- Hiking in Colorado - Hanging Lake
- Hanging Lake Trail videos and reviews
- Hanging Lake - AllAspen.com - visiting details