A “Car Hike” to Emerald Lake

After breakfast, we decided to make it an exploring day.  Emerald Lake was the destination.  We packed a picnic lunch and map in hand, we were off.  First thing we ran into was a detour. 

 

 Lots of road work going on in Crested Butte and it needs to get done before ski season, so now is the time.  The drive to Emerald Lake took us through the tiny biological research town of Gothic.

The road continued through

,Majestic mountains

,rolling meadows

,trickling streams

.and through an Aspen forest

The road narrowed and became rough and rocky until we arrived at Emerald Lake.

A beautiful, aptly named lake; pure, clear and green! 

When we first got there, there were just a few people, including a family that decided to take a dip into 

.the 55 degree water

. There was a family canoeing 

  

• The wildflowers
•          .around the lake were magnificent 

We ended up having our picnic in the car because the area around the lake was beginning to fill up.  Soon, there were kayakers, inflatable boaters, picnickers even an inflatable paddle board.  

Sitting by the lake, watching the people was very enjoyable.  On the way home, we went back through the small town of Gothic.  The Town Hall building really stood out to us!  

Back through the detour and home.