Echo Lake Park, located just an hour west of Denver, is a popular destination within the Denver Mountain Parks system. This 616-acre sub-alpine park features the picturesque 24-acre Echo Lake, easily accessible from the parking lot. The lake is 10,600 feet above sea level and is stocked yearly with rainbow trout, a favorite location for fly fishers. It also offers a refreshing respite from the summer heat. Visitors can enjoy a relatively easy three-quarter-mile hike around the lake, offering stunning views of Mt. Evans and surrounding subalpine forests.
The Mount Evans Scenic Byway, renowned as the highest paved road in North America, is an adventure that attracts many visitors to Echo Lake. Open only during the warmer months, the byway climbs to 14,130 feet and ends near Summit Lake Park. A short trail from the end of the road leads to the summit of Mt. Evans, offering panoramic views of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The byway also features the Walter Pesman Alpine Garden, showcasing ancient bristlecone pines and fields of alpine flowers that bloom in the short summer season.
Managed by the Forest Service, the small primitive campground at Echo Lake Park offers limited accommodations for RVs and tents, making reservations essential. Open from June through August, the campground provides basic amenities, including vault toilets, hand-pumped drinking water, picnic tables, grills, and campfire rings. Nearby, the historic Echo Lake Lodge serves as a seasonal visitor center with a restaurant and souvenir shop.
Echo Lake Park serves as a trailhead for several hiking trails, including the Chicago Lakes Trail, Lincoln Lakes Trail, and the trail to Summit Lake Park. These trails vary in difficulty, with some leading to challenging sections as the elevation increases. Cycling enthusiasts often tackle the route between Echo Lake and Summit Lake before the scenic byway opens to vehicular traffic. ATV riding, skiing, mountaineering, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and equestrian riding are among the popular year-round outdoor activities in the area.
A visit to Echo Lake Park often includes a side trip to the historic mining town of Idaho Springs. Known for its gold mining history, Idaho Springs offers attractions like the Phoenix Gold Mine and the Argo Gold Mine and Mill, where visitors can pan for gold. The Indian Hot Springs resort provides natural hot mineral baths and spa treatments. The town also features a variety of lodging options, from campgrounds and guest ranches to resort-style accommodations catering to outdoor adventurers and weary trekkers alike.
