20 Attractions to Explore Near Abyss Lake

Mount Bierstadt is a 14,065-foot-high mountain summit in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Mt. Bierstadt is popular, not just because it’s so close to Denver, but it’s also one of the easier and more accessible of Colorado’s 54 fourteen thousand foot peaks.

Mount Evans is the highest peak in the Mount Evans Wilderness in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The peak is one of the characteristic Front Range peaks, dominating the western skyline of the Great Plains along with Pikes Peak, Longs Peak, and nearby Mount Bierstadt. Mount Evans can be seen from over 100 miles to the east, and many miles in other directions.

This is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by the University of Denver. It is located near the summit of Mount Evans in the Arapaho National Forest approximately 60 kilometers. It is the third highest optical/infrared observatory in the World, and was the highest until the Indian Astronomical Observatory opened in 2001.

Mount Spalding is a mountain in the Front Range in United States. Its southwest side connects to the Sawtooth Ridge between Evans and Bierstadt also. It sits across Summit Lake from Evans and is a popular 13er to climb that can easily be done in an hour or so from Summit Lake. It's more fun to climb Evans and do the 2nd class scramble over to Spalding though. Grays and Torreys are also easily seen from Spalding.

Summit Lake Park is a park located along Mount Evans Scenic Byway about 64 miles west of Denver, Colorado. The park is 160 acres in size and contains alpine tundra. Land to the east of the lake is in a state of permafrost which helps to prevent drainage of the area. During the summer, the park is filled with wildflowers, some of which have not been found anywhere else outside of the Arctic Circle. The park is named after Summit Lake, the headwaters of Bear Creek.

Gray Wolf Mountain is a high thirteener in northern end of the Mount Evans Wilderness. Gray Wolf Mountain is connected to the more popular Mount Spalding by a high and gentle expanse of rolling tundra. In spite of this demure southern appearance Gray Wolf has been deeply gauged by glaciation and the cliffs rising above the Chicago Lakes and Hells Hole are quite spectacular. The Hells Hole escarpment in particular is rugged and handsome. In spite of these cliffs many routes exist that skirt them.

The Chicago Lakes are located south of Idaho Springs in the Mt Evans Wilderness Area. These spectacular alpine lakes lie .65 miles and 313' apart in a broad valley beneath Mt Evans, Mt Spalding and Mount Warren. Visitors will enjoy stunning alpine scenery and wildlife that includes moose, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.

The Guanella Pass Scenic Byway is a great introduction to Colorado's Rocky Mountains.This road, while a detour from Hwy. 285, provides a perfect snapshot of the Rocky Mountain ecosystem in only 22 short miles. At the summit of the pass, hiking trails lead east to Mount Bierstadt among other places.The road is no longer maintained in the winter and expect closure after the first heavy snow in the winter.

Lincoln Lake is a 98 acre lake located in Washburn County. It has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. It makes a great spot for a hike. The trails are well marked. With the lake as a backdrop and beautiful rock outcroppings and so more.

The Mt Goliath Natural Area is located 16.5 miles south of Idaho Springs on the Mt Evans Scenic Byway. It protects the largest, northernmost stand of Bristlecone Pine trees in North America, and is internationally recognized as one of the purest locations to study alpine ecology.While bristlecone pines highlight this area, it also supports localized micro-climates with plants found nowhere else below the Arctic Circle.

Mount Goliath is a peak high on the shoulders of Mount Evans located outside of Idaho Springs within the Arapaho National Forest. Here in this fragile alpine environment Denver Botanic Gardens oversees the highest cultivated garden in the U.S., managed in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. Amid grand mountain vistas, the 1.5 mile Pesman Trail winds through subalpine and alpine areas of bristlecone pines and wildflowers.

Square Top Mountain is the 111th highest peak in Colorado. Situated in Colorado's Front Range, near Guanella Pass, Square Top lies midway between the 14er duos of Evans-Bierstadt and Grays-Torreys. Overshadowed by these loftier neighbors, Square Top attracts relatively little traffic from alpine travelers.

Echo Lake Park is a park located along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway about 33.5 mi west of Denver, Colorado. The park provides a stone shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grills on one end of the lake, and the 1926 Echo Lake Lodge and an Arapaho National Forest campground are found at the other. Access to backpacking trails, including the Chicago Lakes trail and Lincoln Lakes trail, can be found adjacent to the lake. The park is part of the Denver Mountain Parks system.

Argentine Pass is a high mountain pass in Summit County, Colorado. It is the highest paved pass in the Rockies. The pass provides access to the valley of the Blue River from the west. The pass was used by Native Americans and early settlers as a shortcut between the Platte and Arkansas rivers. Today, the pass is popular with hikers, cyclists, and skiers. Argentine Pass is also one of the few places in Colorado where you can drive across the Continental Divide.

This wonderful network of trails is just a short drive away from the municipality of Georgetown in Colorado. Hike the paths and notice the structures that remain from the old mines in the area. Whether you are a history buff or not, these mines are impressive and cool to see as you meander down the forested path.

The Georgetown Lake, located just off I-70 is the easiest to access fishing location in the area. The lake is equipped with handicap-accessible fishing docks and a maintained trail that borders the entire lake. It also sports a big-horn sheep viewing area and plenty of places to set up a family picnic. Boating on the lake is allowed so long as they are not motorized. This includes gas or electric motors.

Juniper Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.368m (11,049ft) above the sea level, located in Clear Creek County. The road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called Colorado State Highway 103, aka Squaw Pass Road. The harrowing highway has steep drop-offs on both sides.

Mount Edwards is a high mountain summit in the Rocky Mountains' Front Range of North America. The 13,856-foot thirteener is located in Arapaho National Forest, 7.6 miles southwest of the Town of Georgetown, Colorado, United States, on the Continental Divide between Clear Creek and Summit counties.