{"id":3300,"date":"2012-07-21T21:00:32","date_gmt":"2012-07-22T03:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2017-07-11T13:18:29","modified_gmt":"2017-07-11T19:18:29","slug":"tr-copley-lake-hike-13-july-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/tr-copley-lake-hike-13-july-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"TR: Copley Lake Hike (13 July 2012)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve been hiking a lot this summer and exploring areas that are new for me.  One of my hikes took me to Copley Lake, a trail not far out of the town of Crested Butte, but one that I&#8217;d still never been on before.  I was pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n<p>My partner for the day was Eddy &#8211; thanks to Pete and Dara for letting him come out and play with me for a few hours.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040495Eddie.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"515\" alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The trail is largely double track, as it follows an old road just above Elk Creek.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040458wildflowers.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The day was a bit hot.  Eddy agreed.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040478Eddie.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With the beginning of summer starting out hot and dry, our wild flowers have been less plentiful than usual.  But, the trail to Copley Lake had some of the best wild flowers I&#8217;ve seen all season.<\/p>\n<p>Larkspur.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040455flowersLarkspur.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><!--more Read more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040471flowers.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chiming Bells.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040467flowers.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040464flowersChimingBells.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Rosy Paintbrush.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040480flowersRosypaintbrush.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Scarlett Paintbrush.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040470flowersSarlettPaintbrush.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Anyone know what the yellow or white flowers in this photo are?  I&#8217;m still learning my wild flowers!  I suspect the yellow-colored flower is some sort of Groundsel, but I&#8217;m unsure of the the white flowers.  The purple one is fireweed.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040485flowers.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A little less than two miles up, the road opens up into a field.  At the field, there is a cairn on the left, with a small trail leading beside it.  That trail will take you to Copley Lake.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040490lake.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The lake was beautiful, with fantastic views of Ruby, Owen, and Purple in the background.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040500lake.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Eddy was tired.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040492Eddie.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Everything surrounding the lake was lush and green &#8211; a nice site, especially in a drought year.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040498trees.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We walked along the lake for a ways, veering off the beaten path for a bit.  Eventually the trail trickles out.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040507eddie.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040510lake.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The sky was also fantastically beautiful.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040524sky.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>After spending some time enjoying the lake, it was time for Eddie and I to head back down.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/copleylake_aug2012\/P1040526axtell.jpg\"  alt=\"Copley Lake Hike near Crested Butte, CO.\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Elevation profile and stats for the hike.<br \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3301\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3301\" style=\"width: 1103px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/CopleyLake.jpg\" alt=\"Copley Lake elevation profile and statistics.\" title=\"CopleyLake\" width=\"1103\" height=\"662\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/CopleyLake.jpg 1103w, https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/CopleyLake-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/CopleyLake-800x480.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1103px) 100vw, 1103px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3301\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Copley Lake elevation profile and statistics.  <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>Google map and track.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=215297716422379617326.0004c4bb1ea18fcc83753&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=38.864988,-107.071542&amp;spn=0.018308,0.023399&amp;t=h&amp;output=embed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><small>View <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=215297716422379617326.0004c4bb1ea18fcc83753&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;ll=38.864988,-107.071542&amp;spn=0.018308,0.023399&amp;t=h&amp;source=embed\" style=\"color:#0000FF;text-align:left\">Copley Lake 7\/13\/12<\/a> in a larger map<\/small><\/p>\n<p>My stats say the hike is a little over 4.5 miles round trip.  But, for those not walking along the lake for a bit, the round trip distance is 4 miles.  All in all, I highly recommend this hike &#8211; it&#8217;s close to town, has fantastic wildflowers, the scenery is excellent near the lake, and the distance is relatively short.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on how to get here, check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/crested-butte-hiking-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">Crested Butte hiking guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore a lesser traveled area in Crested Butte.  Copley Lake is a fairly short hike with fine views of the Ruby Range and fun wildflowers along the way!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":427538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crested-butte","category-hiking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3300"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":427539,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions\/427539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/427538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}