Echo Lake Park
Idaho Springs, CO
A subalpine lake at 3,230 m at the foot of the Mount Blue Sky road (CO-5), with an easy loop trail. Good picnic spot before climbing higher.
Echo Lake Park is a mountain lake with a park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, about 54 kilometers (33.5 miles) west of Denver near Idaho Springs. It belongs to the Denver Mountain Parks system and covers about 240 hectares (600 acres). The lake lies at the start of the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway (CO 5); according to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the road to the summit of Mount Blue Sky starts at the Echo Lake Lodge.
At one end of the lake stands a stone shelter with picnic tables and grills. At the other end is the 1926 Echo Lake Lodge with a gift shop and restaurant, next to an Arapaho National Forest campground. The structures were built in 1921 and 1926 to designs by architect Jacques Benedict in a rustic style and have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995. Hiking trails to Chicago Lakes and Lincoln Lakes start from the lake.
Practical notes: the park makes a good picnic stop before the drive up Mount Blue Sky. The summit road itself is open only in summer and requires a reservation (see Mount Blue Sky). The CDOT does not recommend vehicles over 30 feet (9 meters) long there.
- Nearest town
- Idaho Springs, CO
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 39.6560, -105.6030
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Lostfork BasecampCampsite14 mi from Echo Lake Park · 9 pitchesTentsCaravans
- Kelly Dahl CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Echo Lake Park · 45 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- Jefferson Creek CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Echo Lake Park · 17 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterDogs allowed
- Aspen CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Echo Lake Park · 12 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterDogs allowed
- Lodgepole CampgroundCampsite21 mi from Echo Lake Park · 34 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterDogs allowed
- Sourdough Springs CampgroundCampsite21 mi from Echo Lake ParkTentsDogs allowed
All campsites in Colorado · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Echo Lake Park?
Echo Lake Park is in Idaho Springs, CO, at GPS 39.6560, -105.6030. It is about 6 mi from Georgetown.
Can you camp near Echo Lake Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Echo Lake Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 80 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Echo Lake Park?
Echo Lake Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Mount Blue Sky, Georgetown and Loveland Pass to Breckenridge.
What is there to see near Echo Lake Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Mount Blue Sky (5 mi), Loveland Pass (15 mi), Red Rocks Amphitheatre (21 mi) and Adams Falls (42 mi).
When is the best time to visit Echo Lake Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)