Willis Lake - 10.3 Miles Round-Trip

Willis Lake (11,742') is located 5.15 miles from Willis Gulch Trailhead in the San Isabel National Forest. It lies in a deep, tightly hemmed basin capped by Mount Hope (13,933'), Ervin Peak (13,531'), Mt Blaurock (13,616') and Rinker Peak (13,783') at the head of Willis Gulch.

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The route begins off Highway 82 and joins the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) before splitting off on the Big Willis Gulch Trail to the lake. Willis Lake can be overlooked for Hope Pass, a seminal point on the Leadville 100 racecourse accessed by the CDT. 

It's no less compelling with long stretches of varied terrain and open space in the upper valley. The lake is uncommonly long and ringed by contrastingly steep rockslides, gentle slopes and muddy flats. Fishing is quite good with reports of cutthroat up to 18". Anticipate rugged and overgrown sections on the last two miles, but nothing dissuasive.

Note distance and max elevation figures here only reflect travel to the lake; the Big Willis Gulch Trail never actually drops to the lake and instead continues high up the valley wall to mine remains before fading out. A short scramble down is required to reach the shore:

From the parking lot, cross the bridge over Lake Creek and head straight on a path through tall brush. Ignore social trails that branch off along the creek.

Follow signs for Big and Little Willis Gulch #1471 that lead over beaver ponds to the Upper Twin Lake split (.37 miles : 9,435'). Here grades steepen through young aspen on a long SE arc into the gulch (1.0 miles : 9,835').

Travel moderates to a bridge (1.35 miles : 9,893') where it joins the CDT and steepens considerably in a tall, mixed forest beside the creek. There are many cascades on this stretch though you'll have to work a bit to see the most kinetic ones.

The trail climbs 385' from the bridge to the Little Willis - Big Willis Gulch split (1.8 miles : 10,278'). The Big Willis Gulch Trail breaks SW and moderates to stream crossings at 1.92 and 2.3 miles.

It funnels up a tight gulch and climbs 340' in just .35 miles to a meadow (3.02 miles : 10,933') where the landscape opens to a long rockslide that takes a few minutes to cross (3.2 miles : 11,045').

Once over it begins rugged, shifting intervals through head-high willow that limit visibility. Watch your feet and trail closely on these obfuscated sections. Breaks in the willow pass through attractive meadows where you'll find cabin remains (3.95 miles : 11,350').

The trail clears treeline into a level expanse between a pond and the flank of Rinker Peak (4.45 miles : 11,590'). There's good camping terrain around the pond, though you'll have to punch through rocky willow mats to reach it.

The trail rises up the west valley wall to great views over the lake basin and on to mining remains at the head of the valley. There's no designated route down to the lake and you'll have to improvise, but it's better to drop sooner than later because the further you go the more difficult it is to descend to Willis Lake (5.15 miles : 11,742').

Note your departure point from the main trail, as it can be difficult to find on the return.