Gilpin Lake

The next day we continued up and down and then descended steeply into the Gold Creek canyon where the Wyoming trail ended.  The descent was through deep forest with beautiful flowers and butterflies of all types. We camped near Gold Creek Lake.  After setting up camp, we climbed steeply in the heat to the saddle above Gilpin Lake.  Gilpin Lake is located in a deep glacial basin with mountains, including Mount Zirkel, looming above it.  From the saddle above, the lake has a deep blue color that changes subtly with the changing light and breezes.  Several in our group thought that this was the most spectacular scenery of our trip, and it is certainly one of the most beautiful lakes in Colorado.  At supper time, it began to rain some and I got in my tent.  When I got out again and stood up, I found myself face to face with a juvenile male moose about thirty feet away.  We looked at each other for a moment and then he began to hurry away.