Fryingpan Lakes - 9.1 Miles Round-Trip

The Fryingpan Lakes are located 4.55 miles from Road #505 (5.7 miles south of Fryingpan Road) in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness. The two main lakes are separated by a wide isthmus, and a third lake .7 miles below offers a comparable aestehtic with more accommodating space for camping.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The Fryingpan Lakes form the headwaters of the Fryingpan River, a major tributary of the Roaring Fork celebrated for its 14 miles of Gold Medal Waters on the tail of Ruedi Reservoir.

While thousands visit the Fryingpan each summer to fish and recreate on Ruedi Reservoir, few venture up to this free-flowing headwater just west of the Continental Divide.

Mild-moderate grades follow the river through subalpine forests, open valleys and wide meadows to the lakes. This lightly used but well-maintained trail is ideal for backpackers, families and trail runners, and features good wildlife viewing and abundant flowers across long open slopes.

An unmaintained route continues over the Divide below Deer Mountain (13,761') into the Lake Creek drainage near Independence Pass:

The trail begins near the Marten Creek - Fryingpan confluence and rises quickly into a moss-draped forest. It reaches the H-F Wilderness Boundary (.4 miles : 10,085') and crosses a big open slope at .92 miles (10,280'), the first of several high clearings leading to a wide bridge over the Fryingpan River (2.35 miles : 10,602').

The trail continues south up the east side of the river with expanding views across the valley. It crosses the base of a rockslide (2.85 miles : 10,742') and resumes moderate travel into a big, level meadow (3.45 miles) leading to the first lake (3.75 miles : 10,933').

The lake is small but lies in a wide, flat section of the valley with ideal camping terrain and views of Mount Oklahoma (13,845'). The trail undulates around the rugged east shore to gentle terrain along the inlet where campers will find more privacy during peak summer months (4.0 miles).

It re-enters the timber and negotiates a shifting, rugged path through large boulders to the first Fryingpan Lake (4.4 miles : 11,024'). The trail picks through more of the same to a large isthmus separating the upper and lower lakes (4.52 miles : 11,032').

The isthmus is wide and slightly elevated, offering great views of both lakes and the upper valley. Tall knolls around the lakes provide good vantages but require a little scrambling to reach.

A short stream bisects the isthmus and connects the two lakes. The main trail continues into a meadow-like inlet area and follows an unmaintained route up to the Divide. See more on Fryingpan Pass and the North Fork of Lake Creek Trail.