Highland Mary Lakes and Verde Lakes Loop

Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest (Cunningham Gulch, east of Silverton)

“Waterfalls in Cunningham Gulch, on the way to Highland Mary Lakes” by Courtney Gibbons , CC BY 2.0 · Source · Resized for the web

The Highland Mary Lakes sit on the alpine tundra of the Weminuche Wilderness above Silverton, a string of lakes above 12,000 feet with views across to the spiky Grenadier Range. Durango Trails notes that reaching this kind of high country usually takes a multi-day trip, but Highland Mary is an exception, a short climb from Cunningham Gulch. Many people day hike it, but trip reports describe camping by the lakes as the way to really take it in.

The climb is steep, and the lakes are exposed to mountain weather.

The hike

The trail starts in Cunningham Gulch. Durango Trails gives the directions from Silverton: follow County Road 2 toward Howardsville, turn right on County Road 4, marked for the Old Hundred Mine Tour, and drive 3.7 miles up Cunningham Gulch to the ruins of a mine. Hiking Walking says the last 0.8 mile to the trailhead needs good clearance and 4WD, including a creek crossing, and that low-clearance drivers should park near the mine and walk up. gjhikes notes a primitive camping area with a privy along County Road 4.

At the trailhead, Hiking Walking says, a sign with a large Weminuche Wilderness map marks the start, and an old wood sign points left to the Continental Divide Trail and right to the Highland Mary Lakes Trail. The Good, The Bad and the RV puts the trailhead at about 10,790 feet.

The climb is steady and steep. RootsRated says the first 1.5 miles climb steeply on a loose, rocky trail through dense spruce forest, and that the trail mellows into gentle meadows near treeline and the lakes. gjhikes describes the trail climbing along cascading Cunningham Creek, with numerous waterfalls along the way. Wandering La Vignes says the hike packs more than 1,500 feet of gain into a 3-mile section.

The lakes come at about 1.75 to 2.4 miles, depending on the source. gjhikes puts the first small lake at about 1.9 miles and 12,060 feet. Durango Trails says the hike visits three of the seven Highland Mary Lakes and the Verde Lakes, all above 12,000 feet. gjhikes says it’s about another half mile from the Highland Mary Lakes to the Verde Lakes, where a line of posts marks the junction with the Continental Divide Trail.

From Verde Lakes, the loop follows the Continental Divide Trail north along the divide and back down into Cunningham Gulch. Hiking Walking puts the loop at 7.7 miles. Wandering the Rockies found Verde Lake the prettiest of the day and noted gorgeous views of the Vestal Basin along the Continental Divide Trail section.

A TripOutside trip report from July 2026 describes a 24-hour trip from the Cunningham Gulch trailhead, a lakeside camp at nearly 12,000 feet, and a high tundra traverse under the spires of the Grenadier Range, with a high point of about 12,700 feet.

Durango Trails puts the trailhead about 57 miles from Durango. Redwood Llamas runs guided trips that base camp in the woods nearby, with views down Elk Creek and layover days to explore the area’s lakes.

The San Juan Mountains Association lists Weminuche Wilderness rules, including a 15-person group limit and no camping within 100 feet of streams or lakes.

For another San Juan trip, see Ice Lakes Basin.

Tips

Bring a high-clearance vehicle or plan to walk. The last 0.8 mile to the trailhead needs 4WD.
Camp 100 feet from water. That’s a Weminuche Wilderness rule.
Start early. Trip reports describe clouds building by mid-morning.
Expect a steep first 1.5 miles. The trail is loose and rocky through the forest.
Plan for exposure. The lakes and the divide are above treeline.

Camping

Camping is dispersed in the Weminuche Wilderness. The San Juan Mountains Association lists wilderness rules, including a 15-person group limit and no camping or disposal of human waste and wash water within 100 feet of lakes and streams. We found no permit requirement for this route; confirm with the San Juan National Forest. gjhikes notes a primitive camping area with a privy along County Road 4 for the night before.

Inside Intel: Wandering La Vignes camped at Verde Lake and loved the campsite’s unobstructed views of the Grenadier Range and its pyramid-shaped peaks. The TripOutside writers camped lakeside at nearly 12,000 feet the night they arrived. Both trips then continued onto the Continental Divide Trail for the loop.

Trail facts

Distance: About 6 miles round trip to Verde Lakes; about 7.5 to 7.7 miles as a loop
Route type: Loop, or out and back
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. About 1,500 to 1,800 feet of gain.
Elevation: Trailhead about 10,700 to 10,790 feet; lakes above 12,000 feet
Campsites: Dispersed around the lakes
Water: Lakes and creeks. Treat all water.
Permits: None found
Group size: 15 (Weminuche Wilderness)
Trailhead: Highland Mary Lakes Trailhead, end of County Road 4 in Cunningham Gulch (4WD for the last 0.8 mile)
Last verified: October 2, 2026

The Lowdown

Camping near 12,000 feet:

The Highland Mary Lakes sit on cold alpine tundra, so an insulated pad pays off. See which sleeping pads testers recommend.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.