Beaver Creek is known for phenomenal skiing, but summer and fall are great times to explore the mountain on foot. One of the classic hikes is Beaver Lake Trail. Add the Five Senses Trail and you start right from Beaver Creek Village, then climb into the forest to an alpine lake.
As summer starts to give way to fall, the wildflowers are fading and the first splashes of golden aspen are appearing. I recently did this hike for the first time in years. It was a beautiful morning for the steady climb to Beaver Lake.
Start on the Five Senses Trail
Walk through Beaver Creek Village and start on the Five Senses Trail, across from the Chophouse. It’s an easy and scenic warmup before the much harder climb begins.
The trail passes Beaver Creek Chapel. If it’s open, step inside. For a few minutes, I had the simple but beautiful chapel completely to myself.
After the chapel, the route briefly follows the road before diving back onto the dirt trail. Five Senses follows Beaver Creek and is very well marked.
The final sign is “smelling.” Shortly after it, you cross the road and transition onto the more challenging Beaver Lake Trail.
The Climb Begins
The first section parallels the road past Beaver Creek’s maintenance center and fire station. Just beyond the fire station, pavement gives way to gravel and dirt. This also where the real climbing begins.
Beaver Creek Village sits at about 8,100 feet. Beaver Lake is at 9,746 feet, so you gain more than 1,600 feet along the way.
After starting the Beaver Lake Trail about 9:10 a.m., I reached the junction for the Village to Village Trail around 9:30 a.m. A few minutes earlier, two women hiking with three dogs asked if I had seen a bear. Apparently, someone ahead of me had spotted one. I never saw the bear, but I have seen other wildlife on this trail.
I left the trail junction around 9:40 a.m. It’s roughly the halfway point to Beaver Lake.
First Signs of Fall
With 1.4 miles remaining, the route crosses the road again. Signs make the route easy to follow.
After a short stretch through the forest, I came to a narrow trail beside a wider one. I stayed on the wider route and continued climbing.
By 10:15 a.m., I was above 9,400 feet. That’s where I noticed one of my favorite sights of late summer in Colorado: the first hints of fall. Small patches of yellow were starting to appear among the green leaves.
The forest gets quieter as you climb higher. In the final two-tenths of a mile, the trail narrows and rises above the creek. When the trail finally starts to flatten, you know you’re almost there.
Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake is low because of the 2026 drought in Colorado, but still beautiful. Beaver Lake sits within the Holy Cross Wilderness, and you can continue farther into the wilderness from here. For this hike, the lake was my destination.
I arrived about 10:35 a.m., found a spot to sit, and enjoy a snack with a view. More hikers soon started arriving, along with several horseback riders.
After enjoying the scenery, I started hiking back down at 10:57 a.m.
Hiking Back to Beaver Creek Village
One bonus of the return hike is the view. During the climb, it’s easy to stay focused on the trail in front of you. Heading downhill opens up some wonderful mountain views, especially during the first half-mile from the lake.
My descent went considerably faster than the climb, partly because I didn’t stop to take many photos and videos on the way down. I was back at the start of Beaver Lake Trail at 11:53 a.m. and back in the village at 12:04 p.m.
What to Know Before Hiking Beaver Lake Trail
The Five Senses and Beaver Lake Trails combo is about three miles one way and gains over 1,600 feet. It’s considered moderate with the steady uphill making it a solid workout.
The route is open to hikers and horseback riders. Beaver Lake is inside the Holy Cross Wilderness. Beaver Lake Trail is open to mountain bikers to the Wilderness boundary.
Give yourself at least three to four hours for the round-trip hike. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and layers. An early start is smart to reduce your risk of getting caught in an afternoon thunderstorm, especially during monsoon season in July and August.
Best of all, you can start and finish right in Beaver Creek Village. It’s a mountain hike that combines a peaceful chapel, rushing creek, thick forest, alpine lake, and plenty of elevation gain into one memorable morning.
Check out post on a late summer or fall weekend stay in Beaver Creek for fun beyond the hike. For a nearby stay, check out Bachelor Gulch.
