The forecast was 10% chance of rain all weekend, but with the way this summer has been, we should have known better; It was naturally pouring when we woke up at the Blue Lakes trailhead outside of Ridgeway [Colorado] one Friday morning. We kept repeating to ourselves, “10%. It’ll burn off…”

Instead, it only got worse.

I really didn’t know anything about Blue Lakes before a friend casually mentioned a potential trip there. Located in the Sneffels Range of southwestern Colorado, the turquoise blue lakes are in a glacial basin surrounded by the craggy peaks of Mount Sneffels (14,150′), Dallas Peak (13,809′) and Gilpin Peak (13,694′). The Blue Lakes Trailhead begins off Country Road 7, a beautiful spot in and of itself and the trail’s fairly easy, only 3.3 miles to the lower lake at 10,980′. There are a ton of great campsites right there, but in hopes of camping above the lower lake for a more spectacular view, we went left at the fork and as it began to really pour, climbed up 500’in a little over half a mile to just below the middle lake. Taking advantage of a quick break in the rain, we threw tents up under some trees and immediately got in as the next batch of rain came pouring down.

Not realizing how late it had gotten, the rain stopped pattering on the tent and I scrambled out just to stretch my legs. It was shaping up to be one of the best sunsets I’ve ever experienced.

It turned out to be such an amazing weekend and I think I can confidently say that Blue Lakes has taken over Ice Lakes Basin as my favorite spot in Colorado…