Crater Lakes (Upper)

Crater Lakes (Upper): crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Crater Lakes (Upper)

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Crater Lakes (Upper) — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 39.90054, -105.68363. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Crater Lakes (Upper)

• James Peak Protection Area · viewpoint · Grand · ~6 km · Must-see
• Mount Bancroft · viewpoint · Clear Creek · ~9 km · Must-see
• Parry Peak · viewpoint · Clear Creek · ~9 km · Must-see
• Saint Mary's Glacier · viewpoint · Clear Creek · ~10 km · Must-see
• Colorado Mountain · viewpoint · Gilpin · ~11 km · Must-see
• Jasper Peak · viewpoint · Boulder · ~13 km · Must-see
• Mount Neva · viewpoint · Boulder · ~15 km · Must-see
• Halfmoon Pass · viewpoint · Boulder · ~16 km · Must-see
• Arapaho National Forest · sanctuary · Grand · ~17 km · Must-see
• Arapaho Glacier · viewpoint · Boulder · ~17 km · Must-see
• Berthoud Pass · viewpoint · Clear Creek · ~17 km · Must-see
• North Arapaho Peak · viewpoint · Grand · ~18 km · Must-see
• Arikaree Glacier · viewpoint · Boulder · ~21 km · Must-see
• Navajo Peak · viewpoint · Boulder · ~22 km · Must-see
• Indian Peaks Wilderness · viewpoint · Grand · ~22 km · Must-see
• Apache Peak · viewpoint · Grand · ~22 km · Must-see
• Fair Glacier · viewpoint · Grand · ~22 km · Must-see
• Barker Reservoir · lake · Boulder · ~22 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Crater Lakes (Upper)

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Crater Lakes (Upper)

• Barker Reservoir · lake · Boulder · ~22 km · Must-see
• Monarch Lake Dam · lake · Grand · ~30 km · Must-see
• Stapp Lakes · lake · Boulder · ~34 km · Must-see
• Gross Reservoir · lake · Boulder · ~34 km · Must-see
• Echo Lake · lake · Clear Creek · ~35 km · Must-see
• Lake Granby · lake · Grand · ~38 km · Must-see
• Summit Lake · lake · Clear Creek · ~42 km · Must-see
• Windy Gap Dam · lake · Grand · ~43 km · Must-see
• Shadow Mountain Dam · lake · Grand · ~46 km · Must-see
• Grand Lake · lake · Grand · ~50 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Colorado

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