Last May, Colorado’s Hanging Lake Trail closed ahead of a $4.5 million, 100-year restoration project. Almost a year later, reservations are finally open for hikers to book their timed entry slots starting July 1.
Hanging Lake is a National Natural Landmark and one of Colorado’s most popular hiking destinations. However, due to high visitation through the 2010s, damage sustained during the Grizzly Creek wildfire in 2020, and subsequent floods in 2021 and 2023, the trail needed revitalization. Bridges needed to be rebuilt, flood debris needed to be removed, and better infrastructure was required to sustain the number of annual hikers.
The National Forest Foundation (NFF), the City of Glenwood Springs, Get Outside Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) partnered to make this restoration project possible.
“We want to facilitate a visitor experience and make sure that as many people are able to enjoy this trail as possible. And we also want to protect the resources that are there along with it,” Emily Kasyon, White River National Forest program coordinator for the NFF, told GearJunkie when we covered the story last spring. “And I think this trail design really gets at that.”
To book your timed entry reservation for Hanging Lake Trail, go to the Visit Glenwood Springs Hanging Lake webpage.
Hanging Lake 100-Year Restoration Project
Throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2024, trail and construction crews continued working on this restoration project, which USFS hopes will last another 100 years. All seven bridges along the Hanging Lake Trail were torn out, and helicopters were used to fly in replacement materials. Once complete, the new bridges will be slightly higher to account for potential high water and debris flow.
The trail still follows roughly the same route. However, there will also be a new plaza with seating and shading at the trailhead; the Civilian Conservation Core historic shelter will be stabilized, and a rest area built around it, and Spouting Rock waterfall will feature a boardwalk to help mitigate erosion. The plan also includes rock work, passing lanes on the trail, and native seed planting along Dead Horse Creek.
Hanging Lake’s Call Center informed GearJunkie that there is still much work to be done. However, White River National Forest officials told GearJunkie, that they’re confident most of the trail restoration and bridge construction will be complete by July 1. The plaza at the trailhead and boardwalk around Spouting Rock waterfall may not be complete until the fall.
The National Forest Service’s visitor cap of 650 people per day will not change. That limit was established in 2018 after the trail had 186,000 visitors in one year.
Reserve Your Hike at Hanging Lake
Booking for Hanging Lake timed entry slots opened on March 17. According to the Hanging Lake Call Center, there have already been a lot of reservations made.
Reservations cost $12 and are available hourly from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a 3-hour hiking window. Parking is included, and hikers must have their own vehicle at the trailhead. Upon arrival at the Hanging Lake Trailhead, a permit must be presented in order to gain access and start hiking. (However, children under 2 do not need their own permit.)
Cancelling or rescheduling a reservation must be done at least 48 hours ahead of your departure day. Hikers who are not present within 30 minutes of their reservation time will not be allowed on the trail. So be sure to be on time when you’ve booked your reservation.
Permit fees will help the USFS pay for the reservation service, visitor information, trail supervisors, sanitization of touch areas and restrooms, conservation and interpretation services, maintenance, additional staffing, and communications.
If you have questions, the Hanging Lake call center can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (970) 384-6309.
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