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The most beautiful nine-mile hiking path that I have ever been on covers part of Snowmass ski area on the way to Snowmass Lake.
The hike begins in a horse pasture at the bottom on the mountain and is more comfortable as a two-day hike than one day for backpackers, but it can done in one day if you push yourself.
The first seven miles of the hike are through the slopes of Snowmass ski area, slipping under the ski lifts and in and out of the aspen trees. Wildlife along the path includes chipmunks, deer, and elk and whistling marmots. Marmots are ground-hog like creatures that whistle to communicate from their homes in the rocks.

At the seven-mile mark is a camp area and a series of beaver ponds that provide great fishing for rainbow trout.
The only thing to watch out for in this campground are the magpies. The camp thieves enjoy shining objects and take them to their nests high in the pines of the campground.
The second day of the hike is full of switchbacks and water-crossings, starting with a trip across the beaver dam at the bottom of the lowest pond. After balancing across the wet and sometimes moving logs, the last two miles of the trek are at a fairly steep incline and involve lots of switchbacks.
The trail ends at just above 10,000 feet at the campground at Snowmass Lake. The lake is a glacier fed waterway that has trout that feed on freshwater shrimp. The meat of the fish is almost salmon-pink and is the best fish I have ever eaten.
On the north side of the lake, hikers can explore the glacier, though they should take appropriate precautions for the high altitude wildlife which includes bears and porcupines. On one hiking rip, we lost all the leather in the camp to a hungry porcupine and several times we saw evidence of the bears near the glacier.
Hikers should also remember that the lake sits at 10,000 feet, meaning it is chilly year-round and there is often snow on the ground until mid-summer.
This is by far the best hike I have ever had the pleasure to experience.

Learn more about this author, Lucinda Gunnin.
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