San Juan Mountains, Uncompahgre National Forest

Permit Information

GMUG National Forest: activities with 75+ participants/spectators require a Special Use Permit. Groups under 75 for non commercial use may not need a formal SUP. Processing fees: Minor 1 (1 to 8 hrs) $159, Minor 2 (8 to 24 hrs) $563, but fees are exempted for applications requiring under 50 processing hours. Separate annual land use rental fee based on fair market value. Applications due March 15 for summer/fall events (decision by April 30). Contact the GMUG Supervisor's Office for wedding spe…

Planning Your Day at San Juan Mountains, Uncompahgre National Forest

One-Spot Day

San Juan one spot days are the honest move because every signature lake is a half day to full day hike. Ice Lakes and Blue Lakes are each 6 to 7 miles roundtrip with 2,000 plus feet of climb at elevations starting around 10,000 feet. Pick one basin and commit. A couple set on bagging both in one weekend should plan two separate days, because afternoon thunderstorms are real and ending a second hike at 2pm is not optional.

Ceremony + Portraits Split

Splits inside one basin work. Ice Lakes has a lower lake at mile 3 and an upper lake at mile 3.7, which stages ceremony and portrait locations in the same trip. Blue Lakes has Lower Blue Lake at mile 3 and upper lakes past scrambling terrain. Pick the basin first, then use the trail geography to stage the day. Splitting between Ice Lakes and Blue Lakes is two days, two drives, and two trailhead starts.

A Note on Light

Morning light illuminates the east facing cirque walls of both basins before the afternoon cloud build. Start hiking by 5am to reach the lake by 8am for the cleanest light and lowest wind. Storms roll in by early afternoon in July and August and exposure at 12,000 feet is serious. Late September turns the aspens gold on the lower approach trails. Midday flattens the turquoise on the lakes, so shoot early and descend before the cloud line.

Ceremony Spots at San Juan Mountains, Uncompahgre National Forest

• Ice Lakes Basin — Stunningly vivid turquoise alpine lakes surrounded by wildflower meadows and jagged 13,000 ft peaks
• Blue Lakes — Three pristine alpine lakes beneath the dramatic north face of Mt. Sneffels with intense blue water