Herman Gulch, alpine glory at the Continental Divide

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At Herman Gulch, timing your hike to arrive at the lake at sunrise can result in a photo you will want to frame and hang on a wall. Herman Lake is located at 12,000 feet at the foot of the Continental Divide. The hike starts at Exit 218 on Interstate 70, two miles east of the exit for Loveland Pass. JOHN MEYER, THE DENVER POST

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By John Meyer

jmeyer@denverpost.com

If a wondrous hike that doesn’t require you to set aside an entire day sounds good to you, I highly recommend Herman Gulch in Clear Creek County, a mere 40 miles from the metro area.

A hike of 3.25 miles leads to a beautiful alpine lake beneath the Continental Divide at an elevation of 12,000 feet. You can get up and down in four hours or so, and even with travel time, you can be back in Denver by the middle of the day. The last time I did it, on a Saturday morning three weeks ago, it took me only 45 minutes to drive from the Interstate 70 Morrison exit to the Herman Gulch trailhead at Exit 218, 3 miles east of the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnels.

The hike to the lake climbs 1,700 feet, beginning at 10,300 feet. It is a very popular trail, but there is lots of parking at the trailhead. The lake is a great lunch spot, with the Continental Divide ridge providing a stunning backdrop. The divide rises more than 1,400 feet above the lake, which is twice the height of downtown Denver’s tallest buildings.

The hike has some steep inclines that will get your heart pounding. They occur on the first half mile of the hike and the last half mile or so before the lake. Much of the trail travels through forest shade before opening up in a lovely meadow with beautifully framed views of the Continental Divide ridge and Pettingell Peak, elevation 13,553 feet.

This being fall foliage season, it’s worth noting that the first half mile or so of the hike passes through aspen stands. If you can hit the timing right, hiking along flaming, quaking aspen would be a glorious experience.

While most people turn around at the lake, I suggest continuing another quarter mile or so for views of a gorgeous cirque just south of the lake.

Passing through the meadow on the way back to the trailhead reveals beautiful views of Mount Sniktau, a 13,234-foot peak to the south, and Torreys Peak, one of Colorado’s most distinctive fourteeners. On the descent through the forest, beware of exposed tree routes that might trip you if you’re not paying attention.

Another thing to love about Herman Lake: You can get outstanding photos. If you arrive at the trailhead early in the morning, the sun will be behind you, beautifully illuminating the 13,000-foot peaks looming ahead as you ascend. If you can get to the lake around sunrise, you will be rewarded with golden light on the peaks and contrasting low-angle shadows that make for photos you’ll want to frame.