Coney Lake is located 2.6 miles from the Beaver Creek Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The lake is named for the 'coney' - or pika - that inhabit surrounding talus slopes. Coney Lake sees lighter crowds than other Indian Peaks alpine lakes because of its inaccessibility by standard car. Visitors are rewarded with excellent fishing against a striking alpine backdrop.

Sawtooth Mountain (12,304') ranks #20 among Indian Peaks summits

Looking down the Coney Lake valley from Paiute Peak

Coney Creek fans out through Coney Flats, creating many small ponds and marshes busy with wildlife activity

Bull elk are sexually mature around age 2, but won't be competitive for a mate until 5-6 years old

Upper Coney Lake is located about a mile past Coney Lake on a moderate and intuitively followed x-country route

Small ponds dot the final approach to Coney Lake

Sawtooth Mountain (12,304') frames Coney Flats, a long but non-technical summit off of Buchanan Pass

The meadows of Coney Flats produce particularly rich grazing grounds for deer, elk, moose and bear

Coney Lake has an area of about 8 acres

Coney Lake is a relatively large alpine lake, lined on three sides by dense, tangled patches of krummholz and willow

The final push to Coney Lake leads through an idyllic subalpine landscape

Six peaks top 13,000' in the Indian Peaks Wilderness (proper)

Marmot are a familiar sight in the surrounding talus

Elk migrate to high alpine ridges and meadows during peak summer to feed and limit exposure to predators