The lake is named appropriately, seeing that it is literally located on a "shelf" in the side of the mountain. The trail leading to the lake is pretty gradual until the final set of switchbacks climbing above treeline. The lake sits at roughly 12,000 feet with 13,000 foot mountains rising up in the background.

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Best Hikes to Shelf Lake

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hikers

1. Shelf Lake Trail — Pike National Forest

9.85km

03:23

550m

Alpine lake adventure through aspen tunnels and wildflower tundra to a dramatic 12,000-foot shelf.

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Elevation 3,660 m

Weather

Today

Wednesday 21 January

-6°C

-16°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

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Location: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States

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1. Shelf Lake Trail — Pike National Forest

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