Posted by Derek Sedillo on November 17, 2006 at 11:04 AM
I was thinking of doing some lake photography. I am not really interested in the reservoirs in towns like Memorial Park here in Colorado Springs. But rather a mountain lake like Echo, Sprague, Maroon, etc...
I have seen some cool/unique shots of lakes which *are* frozen like Dream Lake in the winter.
Last time I was up in RMNP a few weeks ago most the lakes where frozen and it was snowing pretty hard. I guess I am just wondering if most mountain lakes are frozen now and will be from now until spring?
There is a 'lake like' reservoir which has some nice scenery up in Evergreen. Hmmm...
Thanks,
Derek
Posted by Richard Wong on November 17, 2006 at 12:58 PM
A week and a half ago, Maroon Lake wasn't frozen at all except for an icy patch on the shoreline part that is separated from the lake by sediment. I dont know how long it takes to freeze since i've never even seen a frozen lake before.
Posted by Tony Bouchard on November 17, 2006 at 11:57 PM
Anyone know if the road up to Maroon Lake is still open?
Posted by Derek Sedillo on November 18, 2006 at 2:43 PM
Tony,
Actually I was wondering the same thing.
I remmember talking with a photographer this fall at the Bells who said he usually snow shoes in to take winter shots because the road is closed for the season. That is a pretty long snow shoe, especially if you want to catch morning light. I think over 5 miles from the lower gate? Although I am sure it is a great place for a winter walk.
The other lake I would like to catch, even flozen, is Dream Lake - the one in you avatar. Have you tried that hike in the snow/off season?
- Derek
Posted by Rick Dunn on November 18, 2006 at 3:04 PM
Derek - the hike/snowshoe to Dream Lake is pretty easy and fairly popular. Not sure of the exact distance, but if it's been more than a couple of days since the latest snow, it will often be packed down to the point that snowshoes are optional. With wind though, I always bring mine in case of drifts.
Posted by Tony Bouchard on November 18, 2006 at 9:56 PM
I've done the Dream Lake hike several times in winter, but I don't really have any good photos to show for it. Like Rick said, it's not too tough. It's best to use snowshoes in fresh snow and Yaktrax if it hasn't snowed for several says. I think it would be a much better shot with fresh snow on the trees, but every time I've hiked it after fresh snow I've ended up with no light.
Posted by Les Barstow on November 19, 2006 at 1:05 AM
I haven't actually hiked these to check, but you might think about some of the ponds at Golden Gate Canyon. Kriley and Slough Ponds are still not frozen (depending on the day, they've had some developing crusts...), so I was thinking the ponds in Forgotten Valley and at the Fishing Hole might also still be open.
Echo will almost certainly be at least partly frozen by now; it's pretty big, but it's also at 10,000 feet. I could be wrong, though.
The Curecanti National Recreation Area reservoirs are probably still open and have reasonable scenery.
Try Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby; I think they freeze relatively late in the season. (If I'm interpretting the Grand Lake webcam correctly at night, it's still unfrozen...) If they're still open, you might try nearby Monarch Lake, too.
Finally, you can also look at some of the State Parks. Lathrop (views of the Spanish Peaks across the scenic Horseshoe Reservoir) and San Luis Lakes (views towards the Dunes, Mt. Blanca, and the rest of the Sangre de Christos) are likely to still be unfrozen, though San Luis Lakes was really low when I was there last month. If you go that way, some of the ponds at Monte Vista NWR might still be open, too.
Discussion
6 repliesI have seen some cool/unique shots of lakes which *are* frozen like Dream Lake in the winter.
Last time I was up in RMNP a few weeks ago most the lakes where frozen and it was snowing pretty hard. I guess I am just wondering if most mountain lakes are frozen now and will be from now until spring?
There is a 'lake like' reservoir which has some nice scenery up in Evergreen. Hmmm...
Thanks,
Derek
Actually I was wondering the same thing.
I remmember talking with a photographer this fall at the Bells who said he usually snow shoes in to take winter shots because the road is closed for the season. That is a pretty long snow shoe, especially if you want to catch morning light. I think over 5 miles from the lower gate? Although I am sure it is a great place for a winter walk.
The other lake I would like to catch, even flozen, is Dream Lake - the one in you avatar. Have you tried that hike in the snow/off season?
- Derek
Echo will almost certainly be at least partly frozen by now; it's pretty big, but it's also at 10,000 feet. I could be wrong, though.
The Curecanti National Recreation Area reservoirs are probably still open and have reasonable scenery.
Try Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Lake Granby; I think they freeze relatively late in the season. (If I'm interpretting the Grand Lake webcam correctly at night, it's still unfrozen...) If they're still open, you might try nearby Monarch Lake, too.
Finally, you can also look at some of the State Parks. Lathrop (views of the Spanish Peaks across the scenic Horseshoe Reservoir) and San Luis Lakes (views towards the Dunes, Mt. Blanca, and the rest of the Sangre de Christos) are likely to still be unfrozen, though San Luis Lakes was really low when I was there last month. If you go that way, some of the ponds at Monte Vista NWR might still be open, too.