Deluge Lake (11,746') is located 4.55 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness. The Deluge Lake Trail passes through aspen groves, dark spruce forests and expansive alpine meadows on a challenging climb to the lake. Visitors will enjoy airy alpine landscapes and well-earned solitude on the hike to Deluge Lake.

The Grand Traverse - a massive ridgeline separating the Deluge, Bighorn and Rock Creek drainages - rises over Deluge Lake

Stream-crossed meadows in the mid-upper valley attract elk and moose

Aspen have a relatively short life span, and often don't produce seeds; instead, lateral roots produce vertical shoots called suckers, some of which will grow into mature trees

Open space on the south side of Deluge Lake offers rangy views back down valley and across the Ten Mile Range and Holy Cross Wilderness

Snow Peak (13,024') frames the east valley wall over Deluge Lake

Deluge Lake (11,746') is framed by Grand Traverse Peak (13,041') to the northwest and Snow Peak (13,024') to the east

Treeline is not really a line, but rather a zone where trees gradually get smaller and more stunted until conditions are too challenging for growth

Once over Deluge Creek (3.65 miles), grades moderate through broad alpine meadows

Colorado subalpine forests typically occur 9,000' - 11,000', and are dominated by subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce

The final run to Deluge Lake passes through open tundra on a faint path

Small glacial ponds dot the perimeter of Deluge Lake

The trail loosely follows Deluge Creek into the open tundra

Interesting terrestrial features and perennial snowfields ring Deluge Lake

Explore acres of open tundra along the south shore of Deluge Lake

Thick grasses, forbs, mosses, and snow ring Deluge Lake

This snowfield clings to the southeast shore of Deluge Lake all summer long