This popular hiking destination is in Glenwood Canyon, seven miles east of the town of Glenwood Springs. To prevent it being "loved to death" by the abundance of visitors, strict visitation rules have been implemented since 2019, and I'm glad I'd hiked the trail numerous times before access became so regulated. Now, a paid permit and a reservation time are required to access the trailhead to the lake (fees vary by season) and visitation is limited. More info is available here. In 2011 it was named a National Natural Landmark. Parking is restricted and even those who bike the Glenwood Canyon Bike Trail to reach the trailhead must pay the $12 hiking fee and have a reservation. The trail is now only available to hike from May 1st to October 31st.
The property and former homestead were purchased by Glenwood Springs in 1910 and during the 1940s this was home to a resort and cafe until I-70 construction began in the 1960s. This was the final section of the Interstate System to be constructed due to the complexity of building it, and it has been hailed as an engineering marvel because of the care taken to incorporate the interstate into the fragile canyon environment while leaving as much of the flora and fauna intact as possible.
Construction included three tunnels, 15 miles of retaining walls, and a number of cantilever structures The project required 30 million pounds of structural steel, 30 million pounds of reinforcing steel, and 400,000 cubic yards of concrete weighing 1.62 billion pounds. The popular Hanging Lake area was protected by taking the highway across the river on these long spans that disappear into two 4000 foot long tunnels seen below. The railroad tracks, which are mainly across the river from I-70, can be seen beneath the tunnels after the road crosses the Colorado River. After exiting the tunnels, other road spans return the road to the other side.
Below are photos showing other "solutions" used in narrow sections of the roadway. Construction finished in 1992. Landscaping contracts were awarded to two companies, each doing half the canyon's length.
The Hanging Lake Trail is considered a rugged backcountry trail which runs 1.2 miles up Dead Horse Gulch, gaining 1000 feet in elevation to reach the travertine lake whose turquoise colors are produced by carbonate minerals that have dissolved in the water. The lake is located on a fault line and was created when a nearly two acre section of the valley floor sheered off and dropped down to what is now the shallow lake.
...and steeper sections have stone stairs and even railings...
The strenuous climb is well worth your effort!
Once at the lake, make sure you follow this sign taking you a bit higher up to Spouting Rock...
Visitors are now prohibited from walking on the logs, but no such rule existed 15 years ago...
Below are a few photos to show how the bike trail was integrated into the road's construction...
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