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 (14,265'), Mt Spalding (13,842') and Mount Warren (13,307'). Visitors will enjoy stunning alpine scenery and wildlife that includes moose, elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.

The area between Upper Chicago Lake and Summit Lake is an important breeding ground for bighorn sheep and mountain goat

Looking down at heart-shaped Lower Chicago Lake from the Upper Chicago Lake outlet

The trail continues over Upper Chicago Lake to Summit Lake and one of several hiking routes to Mt Evans

400 acres burned in the 1978 Reservoir Fire, however higher elevations were scarcely affected

Despite aesthetic damage from the 1978 fire, forests require periodic disturbances to perpetuate a healthy nutrient cycle, and this area is well on its way to recovery

The Chicago Lakes Trail begins at Echo Lake along the Mt Evans Scenic Byway

Marmots are rodents, closely related to ground squirrels and prairie dogs

View of Rogers Peak (13,391') from the open, grassy south shore of Lower Chicago Lake

Tundra turf forms where soil beds are deep

Upper Chicago Lake and Mount Spalding (13,842')

Fires replenish soil beds and create new growth and space for grazing animals like deer and elk

Mt Spalding from the outlet of Lower Chicago Lake

The trail passes through large granite blocks between the two lakes

The trail skirts Idaho Springs Reservoir en route the lakes, a well-stocked detour for anglers

Swirling clouds move over the alpine tundra near Upper Chicago Lake

Mushrooms are found trailside - 'Sarcodon imbricatus' seen here is also known as the Scaly Urchin, Shingled Hedgehog or Hawks Wing (while this is considered edible, one should never eat wild mushrooms)

A hiker walks down to the shore of Upper Chicago Lake

The main trail continues past the first lake beside this unnamed 13,307' peak

Looking north across the edge of upper Chicago Lake