Zimmerman Lake Trail

If you want the reward of a high-country lake without the all-day grind, Zimmerman is the one to circle on your map. The trail is an old roadbed — graded back in 1957 for logging — so the tread is wide, well-packed, and easy to follow as it tips gently uphill through spruce and fir near the crest of Cameron Pass. In just over a mile you gain about 450 feet and arrive at the outlet of Zimmerman Lake, a still pocket of water at 10,479 feet where the ridgelines lean in close and the afternoon light does something worth sitting still for.

This is easy walking by mountain standards, but it's real high country: come with layers, watch the afternoon sky for building thunderheads, and don't count on water until you reach the lake. The lake itself carries a quiet conservation story — wildlife crews used it to bring back the greenback cutthroat, Colorado's state fish — so tread lightly on the marshy shoreline. Camping and fires are off-limits near the trailhead and should stay well back from the water. In winter the road stays drivable most of the time, but you'll need snowshoes or skis, and a separate blue-diamond loop circles the lake once the snow flies.

Trail Facts

Getting There

From Ted's Place, drive west on CO-14 for 57.4 miles to the large, paved parking lot on the south (left) side of the highway at mile marker 66.3, near Cameron Pass. The Zimmerman Lake Trail heads east from the upper (south) end of the lot. The parking area is roomy with two entrances — easy for stock trailers — and has toilets, but there's no water at the trailhead. In winter the lot is usually accessible, but be ready for high-elevation driving and bring snowshoes or skis.

Know Before You Go

• Easy tread, real altitude. The old roadbed is wide and simple to follow, but you top out at 10,479 ft — pace yourself, bring layers, and watch the afternoon sky for lightning.
• Dogs on voice control. Keep your dog under voice control at all times, and off the fragile lakeshore.
• No wheels, no motors. Bikes, other wheeled conveyances, and motorized use are all prohibited on this trail.
• Water is spotty. There's no water at the trailhead and none along the climb — you'll only find it at and near the lake, and it should be treated.
• Camp & fire rules. No camping or fires within 200 feet of the trailhead; keep any camp at least 100 feet from the water and trail, and use the established sites on the southwest and north shores.
• Winter is a different trail. The lot usually stays open but demands high-clearance winter driving and snowshoes or skis; a blue-diamond loop circles the lake in winter (about 1.4 extra miles) and shouldn't be used once the snow is gone.
• Stock feed rules. To keep noxious weeds out, any stock feed on the trip must be pellets or certified weed-free hay.