GC2ERK2 Quiet Copley Lake
Type: Traditional | Size: Small | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: eyincbco @ | Hide Date: 09/06/2010 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 52.289 W107° 04.953 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                 

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Copley Lake, a beautiful and quiet spot without the throngs of people typically found at nearby Lake Irwin and Lost Lake. Great views of Ruby Peak, Mount Owen, Purple Peak, and Afley Peak. .

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Hike to cache is almost two miles UP an old wagon road. It is rocky and good footwear is reccomended. Just off of CR 12 (Kebler Pass Road) just west of Crested Butte, the trail starts at an elevation of 9.607ft. at: N 38° 51.419' W 107° 03.601'. It then heads NW up Elk Creek basin, on the west side of the creek. The first 1/4 of mile is the hardest, so don't get discouraged! Beutiful wildflowers in summers, and mushroom hunting in early fall. Follow the wagon road up approx. 1.65 miles to N 38° 52.290' W 107° 04.725' and take single track to the left to get to the lake. Total distance to the lake is 1.85 miles. Took about one hour hiking solo, from trailhead to lake. Bring some sandals to wear,once you get there, to walk around the lake. Many marshy spots! The cache is at 10,710ft., so bring sun block and bug spray! Cache is only accesible in late-spring, summer, and fall. Be aware of hunting season in the fall (Sept.-Nov.)! Winter serves a great threat of deadly avalanches!

Additional Waypoints
S12ERK2 - Copley Lake Trailhead
N 38° 51.419 W 107° 03.601
West side of Elk Creek

07/23/2018 By Hikermama3
Wow hasn’t been logged in 4 years! But I Found it!long walk around the Lake, tftc

08/08/2014 By flutiste
What a BEAUTIFUL spot!!! Hated the road up, but LOVED the lake! The wildflowers are glorious on the north side of the lake -- Elephant head, Western fringed Gentian, purple asters and some kind of purple-topped feathery grass for acres and acres of purple color. This cache was kinda hard to get to, but what a fun cache! Loved the contents of the cache. RockDok traded out for a Caddis fly, and I traded out for the $1. We've lived in this area for a REALLY long time, but never have been up to Copley Lake -- thank you SO much for bringing us up here! Checked out the mine just past the turnoff to the lake on our way back. What a fun hike. We had tried to get up here in late May, but there was still too much snow on the road. TFTC

This entry was edited by flutiste on Sunday, 17 August 2014 at 03:03:38 UTC.

07/27/2014 By SoldierGrrrl
TFTC. Made the hike with CB_Beauty. We should have followed the beginning instructions much better, as we took off on a single track, climbed the wrong mountain, saw the correct wagon path across the ravine and had to start over. Once we were on the correct path we made much better time. We did not need any water shoes. TNLN. As we headed down the trail we were caught in an afternoon thunderstorm, with the added bonus of rice grain-sized hail, and the rain stayed with us until the parking area. Well worth the smiley and clearing one more off our map.

07/24/2014 By cb_beauty
TFTC. Out on a hike with SoldierGrrrl.

07/17/2014 By ktTris
I didn't read the description carefully or notice the waypoint for the trailhead, and I saw a trail and road on my background map, so I parked at Lake Irwin. I ended up bushwhacking part of the way there and a little bit on the way back, and came across "no trespassing" signs as I hiked out, so I don't recommend this.
The lake was pretty; the mountains are spectacular with snow patches and fresh green vegetation. I'll upload a photo after I get home.
Thanks for the hike, the scenery, and the cache.
T glue, lip balm, and food items that I thought might attract animals and/or leak or dry out; L a dollar.
I carried water shoes but did not need them