Almost 1,000 feet up the steep walls of Glenwood Canyon, a natural forest hides away a basin full of water of Paris green, waterfalls roaring near the brittle shoreline of Travertine.
The bottom of the lake is visible through crystal-clear waters. The lake is unearthed by a gold-hunting prospector. Hanging Lake was a private homestead and family retreat until it fell into the hands of Glenwood Springs in 1910.
This is well protected by the White River Forest Service; this is a popular stop for those willing to take a short but steep hike to see the trout-filled, glacially formed watery haven seemingly suspended from the side of the canyon. Just a few hundred yards behind Hanging Lake is yet another waterfall, Spouting Rock, which jets through holes in the canyon walls.
The discovery of the lake tells of a man searching for gold in the canyon. The man found a dead horse at the opening of a gulch. When he followed the gulch up through the steep hillside through the canyon, he came around the backside of the lake.
This is how he first saw the small, bowl-like basin hanging onto the cliffs below. After Congress enacted the Taylor Bill in 1910, Glenwood Springs bought the land, which had previously served as a homestead and a private family retreat.
Following the acquisition, it started its extensive history as a public tourist stop. In the 1940s, it hosted a resort and café until the construction of Interstate-70 commenced in 1968. Hence, in 1972, the trail and the lake were returned to the protection of the Forest Service as part of the White River National Forest. This has been a progressively popular tourist destination since.
In 2011, the lake was named a National Natural Landmark by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The fragile shoreline of Hanging Lake is made of travertine, which was formed by dissolved limestone during the Mississippian period. The Leadville Formation is deposited on rocks and logs, forming travertine layers.
Hanging Lake is located on a fault line and was formed when roughly an acre and a half of the valley floor sheared off from the fault and dropped to what is now the shallow bed of the lake. The lake’s turquoise color comes from carbonate minerals that have dissolved in the water. You’ll also have several benches to relax and soak in the sublime beauty of this 1.5-acre lake.
Hanging Lake is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Colorado, approximately 3.2 miles round trip and two hours of hiking time. Behind the lake, hikers will discover Spouting Rock, a much larger waterfall that flows from a set of holes in the limestone cliffs of Dead Horse Canyon. Hanging Lake receives over 131,000 visitors per year. Because of the high amount of traffic, Hanging Lake faces the threat of ecological disruption.
Thousands of visitors and the effects of wading and swimming by humans and dogs are having a significant impact on the strange ecosystem of the lake. No dogs are allowed on the trailhead or left behind in cars. No fishing or swimming is allowed at the lake. This precious natural wonder is one we all must work together to protect by respecting the rules.
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Source: Atlas Obscura! Wikipedia
