Stone Lake is located 6.15 miles from Roaring Fork Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. This challenging hike begins at Lake Granby and follows the Roaring Fork drainage up to Irving Hale Pass. It rolls through airy meadows before diving steeply into Hell Canyon and rising back to Stone Lake. Upper Stone Lake is located .4 miles ahead at the top of Hell Canyon between Hiamovi Mountain and Cooper Peak. The lakes are aptly named for large rock features that form the basin, though the lakes themselves are surrounded by gentle terrain ideal for camping and exploration.

Rolling meadows on Mount Irving Hale Pass (11,195') between the Roaring Fork drainage and Hell Canyon

View of Crawford Lake and Long Lake on the steep, rugged descent into Hell Canyon

Hiamovi Mountain (12,395') stands prominently over the wide, level basin of Upper Stone Lake (10,736')

Huckleberry plants cover Mount Irving Hale Pass and the Stone Lake perimeter, peaking in late September; this low-growing plant can be identified at peak by its deep red color

Upper Stone Lake is located .4 miles and less than 100' above Stone Lake

Barbed pads on the talons of osprey help them grab slippery fish

Stone Lake sees lighter traffic than nearby Gourd Lake and Crater Lake largely because of the greater difficulty in reaching it

Unlike many lakes in the Indian Peaks that are confined by steep valley walls or deep cirques, Upper Stone Lake is surrounded by wide, level meadows with ideal terrain for camping and exploration

Once over the pass, the trail loses clarity in places on the rugged descent into Hell Canyon

Lake Granby is the 3rd largest body of water in Colorado, covering over 11.3 square miles

Wild blueberries and huckleberries can be difficult to distinguish, but in most cases both are safe to eat (and delicious!)

Stone Lake and Upper Stone Lake form the headwaters of a major tributary to Buchanan Creek

The saddle east of Hiamovi Mountain is a fairly easy climb, and leads to high alpine meadows just outside the Paradise Park Research Area of RMNP

Indian Paintbrush belongs to a genus of 200 species of partially or fully parasitic plants that derive nourishment from the roots of other plants

Looking east from Stone Lake at the headwall of Hell Canyon

Aspen, thimbleberries and a lush mix of undergrowth produce brilliant autumn colors on the first mile of the Roaring Fork Trail