Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Colorado / Northern Colorado

Zirkel Circle: Gilpin Lake and Gold Creek Lake Loop (Mount Zirkel Wilderness)

Mount Zirkel Wilderness, Routt National Forest, Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District (Slavonia Trailhead, north of Steamboat Springs)

A cascading stream in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness
“A cascading stream in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness” by Jeremy White , CC BY 2.0 · Source · Resized for the web

The Zirkel Circle is a loop of about 10.5 miles in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness north of Steamboat Springs, linking two of the area’s best-known lakes: Gold Creek Lake, with its pine-lined shore, and Gilpin Lake. Komoot describes Gilpin Lake’s cobalt blue water as the loop’s highlight. It’s popular as an overnight, but camping is restricted near the lakes themselves.

That rule shapes the trip: you’ll camp at least a quarter mile from Gilpin and Gold Creek Lakes.

The hike

The loop starts at the Slavonia Trailhead. The Forest Service’s directions: from Steamboat Springs, go west on U.S. 40 to County Road 129, travel about 20 miles north to Seedhouse Road just beyond Clark, then go northeast on Seedhouse Road (Forest Road 400) about 15 miles to the trailhead. It notes a vault toilet at the trailhead. SummitPost says Seedhouse Road is passable for passenger cars.

The Forest Service says Trails #1150, #1161, and #1162 are for foot and horse traffic only and lead to the Zirkel Circle, Gilpin and Gold Creek Lakes, and Mica Lake. The CMC describes starting on the Gilpin Lake Trail (#1161) and turning right after about a quarter mile onto the Gold Creek Lake Trail (#1150). About 3 miles of climbing brings you to Gold Creek Lake.

From Gold Creek Lake, the CMC says the trail continues a steady ascent for about 1.5 miles to a junction with the Gilpin Lake Trail, then another 1.5 miles to Gilpin Lake. Go-Colorado says the trail climbs up and over the saddle behind Gilpin Lake. The final 4.5 miles back to the trailhead along Gilpin Creek are virtually all downhill, according to the CMC.

The Regensburger Photography writer passed a trail register and the Gold Creek junction within the first 0.1 mile, entered the wilderness at 1.6 miles, and found hundreds of columbines blooming around miles 2.5 to 3. Go-Colorado says Gilpin, Gold Creek, and Three Island Lakes are the most heavily used areas on the ranger district, and notes that the Routt Divide Blowdown once closed the road short of the trailhead.

Direction matters. A trip report from Regensburger Photography notes the climb to Gilpin Lake is steeper if you go that way first, and found no good camping between the last stream crossing and the lake because of the steep terrain. The same writer says the loop is at least 2 miles longer than the Forest Service’s 11-mile figure.

The wilderness rules are strict here. SummitPost says camping is prohibited within 100 feet of any trail, wilderness lake, or stream, and within a quarter mile of Gilpin, Gold Creek, and Three Island Lakes. Campfires are also prohibited within a quarter mile of those three lakes. Go-Colorado says overuse and abuse led to the special regulations, in hopes the lakeshores would revegetate.

A Steamboat Pilot column, written in the voice of the lakes themselves, notes that the quarter-mile rule hasn’t deterred some campers despite fines, and suggests nearby lakes like Mica, with only a 100-foot buffer, as alternatives.

Komoot says Gilpin Lake covers 29 acres and calls it one of the most popular destinations in the wilderness. It recommends mid-July through September.

For another Colorado lake trip, see Lawn Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Tips

Camping

Camping is dispersed in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, but SummitPost and the Forest Service describe special restrictions: no camping within a quarter mile of Gilpin, Gold Creek, and Three Island Lakes, and no camping within 100 feet of any trail, lake, or stream. Campfires are prohibited within a quarter mile of those three lakes. The Forest Service links to a map of camping guidelines for the Slavonia area. Contact the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District for current rules.

Inside Intel: SummitPost says Gold Creek, Slavonia Basin, and Gilpin Creek all have good campsites outside the restricted zones. The CMC’s three-day plan camps near Gold Creek Lake the first night and near Gilpin Lake the second, at least a quarter mile from each. The Steamboat Pilot column suggests Mica Lake, where the buffer is only 100 feet, for anyone who wants to camp within view of a lake.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

A quarter mile from Gilpin Lake:

The Zirkel Circle's camping rules mean pitching in the trees, so a tent that fits small spots helps. See which tents testers rate highest.

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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.