Whitney Lake #2002

About Whitney Lake #2002

The Whitney Lake trail begins at Homestake Road #703 and ends at Whitney Lake: This short but steep trail ascends quickly through aspen and conifer groves to Whitney Lake surrounded by dense forest. At various points along the trail views of the Sawatch range can be seen. Whitney peak rises up from the north lake shore to an elevation of 13,271 ft.* There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. Or to see quicksheets for other recreation areas across the Forest, click on the "Recreation Quicksheets" link in the right column and select the appropriate Ranger District.

How to Get There

Travel west from Vail on I-70 to Exit 171 for Minturn. Exit here and head south on US 24 for about 13 miles to Homestake Road, FSR 703. Proceed southwest about 5 miles on this improved dirt road to the small parking area on the left across the road from the trailhead.

Plan Your Visit to Whitney Lake #2002

Heading to Whitney Lake #2002? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)