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Chasm Lake
Hiking Trail
Hard
8.29 mi
2,531 ft
Hike up into the treeless tundra, to a glacial lake tucked beneath a 14-thousand-foot peak.
Chasm Lake is just below the sheer east face of Longs Peak, which is the tallest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. To reach Chasm Lake, you’ll begin on the same trail which leads to Longs’ 14-thousand-foot summit. The first couple of miles are steadily uphill, on a well-trodden path through evergreen forest. Eventually, the trail emerges from the trees, onto alpine tundra dotted with squat spruce and colored with wildflowers. This is where views really open up, of the peaks above and more mountains all around. Eventually, the trees disappear altogether, and the trail steepens on very rocky terrain. At a well-signed junction, the route to Longs Peak splits to the right, and the trail to Chasm Lake goes left. By this point, most of the elevation gain is over with, and the trail contours around a ridgeline, overlooking a steep valley where small lakes and a waterfall are seen below. One obstacle stands in the way of Chasm Lake, however: it’s a steep section of rock rubble which must be scrambled. Intimidating but not too difficult, the route follows a path of least resistance through talus and up a natural ramp. At the top is the lake, with sparkling water framed dramatically beneath the vertical walls of Longs Peak. Smooth boulders around the shoreline provide places for lounging and soaking in the views. Note that because this trail is so high and exposed, weather can quickly become extreme and dangerous. In the summer, thunderstorms commonly pop up in the afternoon, so you should start hiking very early in order to beat the storms. The parking lot often fills up well before sunrise, however, with hikers attempting Longs. Consider alternate transportation to the trailhead if visiting during the busy season. Sources: Written by Jesse Weber
Chasm Lake is just below the sheer east face of Longs Peak, which is the tallest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. To reach Chasm Lake, you’ll begin on the same trail which leads to Longs’ 14-thousand-foot summit. The first couple of miles are steadily uphill, on a well-trodden path through evergreen forest. Eventually, the trail emerges from the trees, onto alpine tundra dotted with squat spruce and colored with wildflowers. This is where views really open up, of the peaks above and more mountains all around. Eventually, the trees disappear altogether, and the trail steepens on very rocky terrain. At a well-signed junction, the route to Longs Peak splits to the right, and the trail to Chasm Lake goes left. By this point, most of the elevation gain is over with, and the trail contours around a ridgeline, overlooking a steep valley where small lakes and a waterfall are seen below. One obstacle stands in the way of Chasm Lake, however: it’s a steep section of rock rubble which must be scrambled. Intimidating but not too difficult, the route follows a path of least resistance through talus and up a natural ramp. At the top is the lake, with sparkling water framed dramatically beneath the vertical walls of Longs Peak. Smooth boulders around the shoreline provide places for lounging and soaking in the views. Note that because this trail is so high and exposed, weather can quickly become extreme and dangerous. In the summer, thunderstorms commonly pop up in the afternoon, so you should start hiking very early in order to beat the storms. The parking lot often fills up well before sunrise, however, with hikers attempting Longs. Consider alternate transportation to the trailhead if visiting during the busy season. Sources: Written by Jesse Weber
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Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longs Peak Rd Climb | 0.84 mi | 397 ft | 8.9% |
| TH to end of Goblin Forest straight (ascent) | 1.60 mi | 932 ft | 11.0% |
| Longs Peak TH to Chasm Lake | 4.23 mi | 2,405 ft | 10.8% |
| Longs TH to creek crossing (ascent) | 1.98 mi | 1,181 ft | 11.3% |
| Mills Moraine Dr Climb | 0.62 mi | 374 ft | 11.4% |
| Longs Peak to Chasm Lake junction | 3.34 mi | 2,123 ft | 12.0% |
| Goblins to Chasm junction | 2.10 mi | 1,365 ft | 12.3% |
| Unnamed Road Climb | 2.01 mi | 1,043 ft | 9.8% |
| Unnamed Rd Climb | 0.32 mi | 292 ft | 16.9% |
| Chasm Lake to Longs parking lot | 4.09 mi | -2,395 ft | -11.1% |
| Chasm junction to Goblins Forest | 2.12 mi | -1,365 ft | -12.2% |
| Chasm junction to TH (descent) | 3.34 mi | -2,093 ft | -11.8% |
| Goblin Forest straight (descent) | 0.44 mi | -207 ft | -8.8% |
| Goblins Forest sign to Longs TH (descent) | 1.16 mi | -722 ft | -11.7% |