Cataract Lake 
Distance: 7.6 - 8.2 miles (round trip)
Gunnison BLM, near Lake City in Southwest Colorado
Looking down at Cataract Lake from near the Continental Divide
Beginning in dense woods the trail passes cascades and waterfalls along Cataract Creek, travels through beautiful alpine meadows and visits a scenic alpine lake on its way to the Continental Divide
See Trail Detail/Full Description
- Distance: 8.2 miles (round trip)
- Elevation: 9,630-ft. at Trailhead
Maximum elevation: 12,200-ft. - Elevation Gain: 2,570-ft.
- Difficulty: moderate-strenuous
- More Hikes in:
Lake City / Southwest Colorado
Why Hike Cataract Lake
This scenic hike climbs steeply up Cataract Gulch to a pretty lake basin just below the Continental Divide. Along the way the trail ascends through dense woods, passes numerous cascades and waterfalls along Cataract Creek and traverses lovely alpine meadows. A potential off-trail connection to Cuba Gulch extends the trip into an overnight backpack.
Elevation Profile
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Trail Resources
Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map
Basecamp(s) Information:
Region Information:
Southwest Colorado
Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado