Savage Lakes Trail

Savage Lakes are two small lakes at 11,000 feet in the Holy Cross Wilderness above the Fryingpan valley, 2 miles up a steady trail from the North Fork Road above the Fryingpan valley east of Basalt. The climb is 1,300 feet through aspen and spruce, the lakes hold trout, and the trailhead is far enough up the valley that it never draws the Aspen crowd. It is the Fryingpan's best short hike.

From the trailhead on the Fryingpan Road, the trail climbs at once into aspen and then spruce, switchbacking up the north side of the valley with the grade steady and the footing good. The wilderness boundary is a short way in. The forest opens occasionally for views back down the valley toward Meredith and the peaks of the Sawatch to the east.

At about 2 miles the trail levels and reaches the lower Savage Lake, in a bowl of meadow and rock below the ridge; the upper lake is a few minutes farther on a faint path around the shore. Both are shallow, cold, and fished for brook and cutthroat trout. Return the same way for 4 miles.

From Basalt, take the Fryingpan Road (County Road 104) east past Ruedi Reservoir and Meredith about 26 miles to the North Fork Road (Forest Road 501), turn left, and follow the gravel road about 8 miles to the signed Savage Lakes trailhead on the left, near the Fryingpan's North Fork. The pavement ends at the North Fork turn; the forest road is passable for passenger cars in summer. Allow about an hour and a quarter from Basalt. The lot is small and rarely full. No fee or permit for day use. There is no toilet.

Dogs must be leashed in the Holy Cross Wilderness. The steady grade is why the trail is not marked kid-friendly here; older kids who hike manage it, and the lakes are a good reward. Carry a filter; the lakes are the only water. Camping is allowed under wilderness rules, 100 feet from the water, no fires; overnight parties self-register at the trailhead and carry the copy, with no fee and no quota. The Fryingpan is a gold-medal trout river and the road has campgrounds along Ruedi. Basalt has groceries and restaurants; Aspen is 40 minutes beyond it. The Glenwood Springs hikes page and the White River region page cover the rest of the valley.