Top 8 Scenic Spots Near Telluride
# 4 - Hope Lake Trail

The Details

LOCATION: The Hope Lake Trailhead is approximately 13 miles south of Telluride, via Colorado 145, County Road 63A, and Forest Road 627

LAST VISIT: 2023

DOES IT REQUIRE HIKING/WALKING: Yes, the hike is about 5 miles round trip with a 1,350' elevation gain

DOES IT REQUIRE 4WD/HIGH CLEARANCE: Yes, the last 2-1/2 miles to the trailhead is really rough; high clearance is recommended

The hike was stunning, and involved a wide variety of scenery: pine forest, scenic views, a winding creek, and a lake above the treeline. If you are only able to do one hike in the Telluride area, this should be the one! As with several of the places we visited, we thought the last couple of miles of the Forest Service Road to the trailhead were really rough, and wouldn't want to tackle the drive without a high clearance vehicle, but there were standard passenger vehicles at the trailhead, so other people's opinions differed on that.