A Trail Worth Protecting
The Hanging Lake Trail is one of Colorado’s most beloved hikes, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its turquoise waters, dramatic canyon walls, and cascading waterfalls.
Rising 1.2 miles through steep terrain in Glenwood Canyon, the trail offers a rare combination of natural beauty and accessibility—making it both a treasured destination and a place that requires thoughtful care.
Bringing People Together
Restoring the Hanging Lake Trail requires collaboration at every level. The NFF convened partners locally and across Colorado to develop a long-term plan that addressed immediate damage and future resilience. Project funding was made possible through a strong coalition of supporters, including the Colorado Lottery, Get Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the City of Glenwood Springs, the U.S. Forest Service, and other local contributors.
To maintain public access while long-term solutions were developed, a temporary trail was completed in 2022. This interim access allowed visitors to continue experiencing Hanging Lake while partners focused on designing a permanent trail that could better withstand heavy use and increasingly extreme environmental conditions.
Rebuilding After Fire and Flood
In 2020, the Grizzly Creek Fire burned through Glenwood Canyon on the White River National Forest, fundamentally altering the landscape surrounding the Hanging Lake Trail. Less than a year later, record-breaking rainfall triggered severe flooding and debris flows. Large sections of the trail were washed out or buried, and all seven trail bridges sustained major damage.
As one of the most heavily visited trails in Colorado—and a cornerstone of the region’s outdoor recreation economy—restoring Hanging Lake was critical for local communities, public lands, and visitors alike. The NFF played a key role in bringing together partners, funding, and expertise to support the White River National Forest in rebuilding the trail stronger and more resilient than before.
Reconstructing a World-Class Trail
The new Hanging Lake Trail was designed to deliver an exceptional visitor experience while prioritizing durability, safety, and resource protection for generations to come. NFF led a multidisciplinary design team that included White River National Forest staff, DHM Design (landscape architecture), ContourLogic (trail design), and JVA Engineering.
Improvements include a fully rebuilt trail engineered to accommodate high visitation, replacement of all seven bridges to withstand future flood events, and a new boardwalk at Spouting Rock—where water dramatically bursts from the canyon wall. The project also incorporates protections for streamside habitat and sensitive cultural resources, along with a reimagined trailhead featuring educational materials that help visitors better understand and care for this special place.
Construction began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed by summer 2026. NFF procured NorTerra Services to lead construction on this technically demanding project. Crews are hand-building more than 1,000 stone steps, flying bridges into the canyon by helicopter, and assembling a custom boardwalk at the base of a waterfall.
The result will be a world-class trail that balances access with stewardship—ensuring Hanging Lake remains a safe, inspiring, and resilient destination on the White River National Forest for decades to come.
Behind every project is a story about the people that love and rely on their National Forest for clean water, strong economies, and safe communities.
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