A friend of mine, Madeleine, sent me a YouTube video of a couple backpacking to Crater Lake to camp next to the incredible Lone Eagle Peak. It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes later that I responded:

“Let’s go.”

That was pretty much all it took.

Within a week, we had backcountry camping permits, flights to Colorado, and a rental car booked. Just like that, a hike we had only seen through someone else’s camera lens was becoming our next adventure.

It’s one of the reasons I love watching travel YouTube. Seeing other people explore incredible places has inspired more trips than I can count, and this one was no exception.

If you’re looking for travel creators to follow, I’ve shared a few of my favorites in this blog post:
The YouTube Travel Creators That Fueled My Wanderlust

As someone who usually travels solo, I’ll admit I was a little hesitant. Madeleine and I had only been friends for a couple of months, and spending several days together in the backcountry is a pretty quick way to find out whether you’re compatible travel partners.

Thankfully, we were. We hiked at the same pace, stayed positive through the long miles, and spent hours talking as we made our way toward Crater Lake. With almost no cell service to distract us, the trail gave us something that’s surprisingly hard to find these days: uninterrupted time to get to know each other.

Looking back, it’s wild how quickly this adventure came together. One YouTube video. One text message. One enthusiastic “Let’s go.” Three weeks later, we were hiking through the Indian Peaks Wilderness toward one of the most beautiful campsites either of us had ever seen.

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Planning Our Crater Lake Colorado Backpacking Trip

After watching the YouTube video, I immediately started researching everything I could about this hike. I pulled up the trail on AllTrails to check the elevation gain, distance, difficulty, and recent hiker reviews.

The first thing I learned? We couldn’t just show up and camp at Crater Lake. Because this area requires backcountry permits, we needed to reserve one of the 12 available campsites.

Luckily, our timing couldn’t have been better. The reservation window opened just a few days after Madeleine sent me the video, and we were ready. We logged in first thing in the morning, crossed our fingers, and somehow snagged a permit! Even better, the permit was only $11, which felt like a small win for a last-minute backpacking trip.

Once we had our campsite secured, we started figuring out the logistics of getting there. We drove an hour and a half to the Austin airport, left my car parked at a nearby hotel, took the shuttle to the airport, and flew to Denver to begin our Colorado adventure.

Since our flight would arrive late in the evening, and the trailhead was about 2.5 hours away, we knew we would need to plan somewhere to stay the first night. I used iOverlander to find a couple of possible camping spots near the trailhead so we had options when we arrived.

The week leading up to the trip was filled with packing, repacking, and making sure we had everything we needed. I downloaded offline maps, tested my Garmin InReach, restocked my First Aid Kit, backflushed my Sawyer Squeeze, and removed anything I couldn’t fly with, like my fuel canister and fire starter kit.

The final checklist looked something like this:

🎟️ Backcountry camping permit
🛫 Flights booked
🚗 Vehicle parking secured
🚙 Rental car reserved
📍 Overnight camping spot planned
🎒 Pack, unpack, and repack until everything fits (getting a bear canister into an IKEA bag was a whole project)

And just like that, our spontaneous idea was becoming a real backpacking trip.

The Journey to Crater Lake Begins

The adventure started before we ever stepped foot on the trail.

After landing in Denver, we picked up our Turo rental car (which, apparently, is a highly controversial way to rent a car) and started making our way toward the mountains.

Since our flight arrived after dark and we still had a drive ahead of us, we decided to spend the night car camping at Jim Creek – The Lost Site. We didn’t get to see much when we arrived, but waking up the next morning made me wish we had gotten there before sunset. It turned out to be a really cool free camping area, and I can see why it’s a popular spot for car campers and RV travelers.

The only thing we weren’t expecting? How cold it would get overnight. Even though we were prepared for mountain weather, the temperature drop caught us both off guard.

Before heading to the trailhead, we made a quick morning stop at the Granby City Market. We picked up camp fuel, grabbed water, and took advantage of the restroom to brush our teeth and clean up before starting our hike.

From there, it was about a 35-minute drive to Monarch Lake Trailhead. When we arrived around 7:10 a.m., there was still plenty of parking available, although I had read this lot fills up quickly during busy summer weekends. We filled our water bottles, made a few final adjustments to our packs, and headed toward the trail.

At the trailhead, we stopped at the trail check-in station where a very kind older gentleman welcomed us, gave us a little information about the trail, checked us in, and wished us luck. There was also a well-maintained pit toilet and trash receptacles available before starting the hike.

We signed the log book, took a photo at the welcome sign, and just like that…we were off!

Following the Water to Crater Lake

The hike begins calmly circling Monarch Lake, and it’s a pretty incredible way to start a backpacking trip. The lake was calm that morning, with cranes wading through the water as the sun slowly rose over the towering mountains surrounding us. Standing there with my backpack on, I immediately got that “we’re really doing this” excitement.

Once we made our way around the lake, the climb began almost immediately. The incline started off gradually, and the trail was a mix of dirt and rocky terrain that was easy to navigate. I was especially thankful that so much of the hike wound through the forest. Open mountain views are beautiful, but there’s something about being surrounded by towering trees that makes me feel completely at home.

One of my favorite parts of this trail was the constant sound of rushing water. Throughout the hike, we followed Arapaho, Buchanan, and Cascade Creeks, crossing bridges, passing waterfalls, and listening to the water rush beside us for miles. I’ve hiked alongside rivers before, but never for this long, and I found it incredibly peaceful. It made even the more challenging sections of the climb feel a little more relaxing.

Around mile 4.7, we stopped for lunch beside one of the most picturesque waterfalls on the trail along Cascade Creek. By this point, the day had started to warm up, and there wasn’t much shade in this section, but neither of us cared. The sound of the waterfall, the fresh mountain air, and the scenery made it one of my favorite lunch spots I’ve ever had on a hike.

After lunch, the trail reminded us that we still had plenty of work left to do.

The second half of the hike was noticeably steeper and definitely challenged two Texans who hadn’t had any time to acclimate to the altitude. But every time I started to feel tired, I’d look around and remember exactly why we came. Alpine lakes, rushing creeks, waterfalls, colorful wildflowers, fresh mountain air, and every shade of green imaginable surrounded us. As difficult as the climb became, I couldn’t stop smiling. This is exactly the kind of place that makes me feel at home.

We didn’t see much wildlife throughout the day, which may have been due to the number of hikers on the trail. But along our hike, we noticed an older couple standing perfectly still, looking high into the trees. Curious, we stopped too.

Sure enough, perched overhead was a bald eagle.

We probably would have walked right past it if they hadn’t been birdwatching, so I’m grateful they took the time to stop. It was the perfect reminder to slow down every once in a while—you never know what you might miss if you’re only focused on reaching the destination.

Our First View of Lone Eagle Peak

Every hike has that one moment you’ll remember long after you’ve forgotten how out of breath or sore you were.

On this hike, it was our first clear view of Lone Eagle Peak.

As we climbed higher and neared Crater Lake, we stepped out of the trees and onto massive rock slabs that just seemed to be getting bigger and stacking higher. And there it was. After hours of hiking, the granite peak we’d been working toward finally came into view.

I’d watched YouTube videos of this hike and had seen countless photos beforehand, so I knew the view waiting for us at Crater Lake would be even more spectacular. But nothing prepared me for how excited I felt seeing Lone Eagle Peak for the first time with my own eyes.

I couldn’t stop smiling. I felt accomplished, motivated, completely in awe, and incredibly thankful to be standing there.

Whenever I reach a viewpoint that leaves me speechless, I’ve started a little tradition. I take a quiet moment to send positive vibes out into the world, thank Mother Nature for creating places like this, and thank my body for carrying me there. It’s a small reminder not to rush through moments that took hours—or sometimes days—to reach.

Choosing Our Campsite at Crater Lake

Choosing a campsite at Crater Lake is unlike anywhere else I’ve backpacked. There are 12 designated campsites scattered around the lake, and they’re all first-come, first-served. Even though we had a backcountry permit, we didn’t have a specific campsite reserved, so there was no way of knowing what would be available until we hiked in.

When we checked in at the trailhead that morning, the kind older gentleman working there gave us a few tips. He told us Campsite 12 was the best site on the lake (and the farthest away), while Campsite 9 was the designated group campsite. Naturally, that made us even more determined to at least try for Site 12.

As we continued around the lake, we passed the first three campsites but decided to keep going. They were fairly close together and didn’t have much of a view of either Crater Lake or Lone Eagle Peak. Since we’d already hiked all this way, we figured we might as well see if the “best” campsite was still available.

Before reaching Crater Lake, we arrived at Mirror Lake, which ended up being my favorite viewpoint of Lone Eagle Peak. Seeing the towering granite peak reflected in the water was absolutely incredible. We paused for a few minutes to take in the view before continuing around the lake. From there, the trail splits, giving you the option to head left or right toward the different campsites. Since we were still determined to find Site 12, we turned right and continued our search.

Unfortunately, we eventually ran out of steam.

At some point, we managed to wander off the trail and found ourselves climbing over downed trees instead of making progress toward the next campsites. Thankfully, I’d downloaded the trail on AllTrails before the trip and was able to pull up the offline map to get us pointed in the right direction again.

By the time we reached Campsites 10 and 11, both were already occupied. We asked one of the campers if they happened to know whether Site 12 was still available, hoping to save ourselves the extra hike if it wasn’t. They told us another group had passed through earlier and they were pretty sure they’d claimed it.

Neither of us had much energy left to gamble on “pretty sure,” so we turned around.

We passed the group campsite at Site 9 and were relieved to find that Campsite 8 was still open. At that point, we didn’t care that it wasn’t our first choice—we were tired, our packs were heavy, and we finally had a place to call home for the night.

Setting Up and Settling In

After carrying our packs up the mountain and finally finding a campsite, the first thing I did was set up my tent. I knew if I sat down first, there was a good chance I’d never convince myself to get back up. Thankfully, everything came together pretty quickly, especially considering it was only my second time setting up this tent. Madeleine got her tent pitched too, and after carrying heavy packs all day, we both agreed there was only one thing left to do.

We took a nap.

An hour later, we crawled out of our tents, made dinner, and finally had a chance to enjoy the view without our backpacks weighing us down. Before it got dark, we stashed our bear canisters away from camp and wandered down to Crater Lake.

We found a rock along the shoreline and just sat there talking while tiny fish jumped from the water and the sun slowly disappeared behind the towering granite peaks surrounding the lake. High above us, thin waterfalls spilled down the cliffs, and for a little while, neither of us felt the need to do anything except soak it all in.

After one spontaneous “let’s go,” and only a week of planning, it felt pretty surreal to finally be sitting beside Crater Lake together.

Eventually, we wandered back to camp, climbed into our tents, and settled in for what we hoped would be a restful night in the mountains.

The Hike Back Down the Mountain

I slept incredibly well that night. After a long day of hiking, I crawled into my sleeping bag feeling completely fulfilled and exhausted. I was especially looking forward to the next morning—making breakfast, slowly sipping a cup of coffee, and soaking in one last view of Lone Eagle Peak from our campsite.

That’s exactly how I imagined the morning going.

Instead, it looked a little different.

Sometime during the night, Madeleine began experiencing altitude sickness. By the time morning came around, it was clear that our priority wasn’t enjoying a slow morning at camp anymore—it was getting safely back down the mountain.

I still made breakfast and took a few moments to appreciate the incredible view one last time, but everything happened much quicker than I’d planned. Unfortunately, coffee had to wait until we were back in civilization.

The hike back to Monarch Lake Trailhead was much quieter than our hike in. We took our time, stopped often, and focused on steadily losing elevation. While I knew Madeleine wasn’t feeling well, I was impressed by how determined she was to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

As we descended, I found myself noticing things I’d missed on the way up. The wildflowers seemed even more vibrant in the morning light, the temperatures had warmed considerably, and the trail was much busier now that it was Saturday.

Although our hike didn’t end quite the way we’d imagined, it was a good reminder that when in the mountains, things don’t always go according to plan. You can train, prepare, pack the right gear, and still have things outside of your control. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, and respecting the mountains means being willing to adjust your plans when your body tells you it’s time. If you’re traveling from a much lower elevation like we were, I’d highly recommend giving yourself a day or two to acclimate before tackling a hike like this. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time in our itinerary to do that, and it’s something I’d strongly consider on a future trip.

Thankfully, we made it back to the trailhead safely, and despite the unexpected ending, neither of us regretted saying “yes” to the adventure.

Trail Information

Trail Name	Mirror Lake and Crater Lake via Cascade Creek Trail
Distance	15.8 miles
Elevation Gain	~2,500 ft
Highest Elevation	~10,400 ft
Difficulty	Moderate to Challenging
Route Type	Out and Back
Time Needed	Overnight or 6+ hours
Permit Required	Not to hike, but yes, for backcountry camping
Dogs Allowed	Yes, on leash

What You Should Know Before Backpacking to Crater Lake

Some quick bullet points of things you should know if you’re planning to hike up to Crater Lake from the Monarch Lake Trailhead.

🏔️ Altitude is no joke. If you’re coming from lower elevations, consider spending a day or two acclimating first.
🎒 Pack lighter than you think. Fifteen miles with a full pack is much different than fifteen miles on a day hike.
🔦 Bring a headlamp. Whether you’re camping or making this a long day hike, having a light source is good practice.
💧 Bring a water filter. You’ll cross several streams, so there’s no need to carry all of your water.
🦟 Expect mosquitoes. They were especially active around the lakes at camp.
🚗 Arrive early. Parking at Monarch Lake Trailhead fills quickly on summer weekends.
🌦️ Mountain weather changes fast. Bring layers, even if the forecast looks perfect.
📵 Don’t expect cell service. Download maps ahead of time.
🐻 Practice proper food storage. This is bear country.

Final Thoughts

It’s funny how quickly life can change. One text message, one YouTube video, and one impulsive “Let’s go” turned into a weekend I’ll remember for a long time. If someone sends you a trail that makes you stop scrolling and think, That looks incredible, maybe don’t overthink it. You never know where one enthusiastic “yes” might take you.

For me, that yes led to one of the most memorable backpacking trips I’ve ever taken. Backpacking to Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak challenged me physically, pushed me outside my comfort zone, and reminded me why I love exploring the outdoors in the first place.

Would I do this backpacking trip again? Absolutely.

The altitude sickness, sore legs, and unexpected challenges didn’t take away from how incredible this place was. If anything, they reminded us to slow down, listen to our bodies, and respect the mountains. Not every adventure goes exactly as planned, and that’s okay. Sometimes the most meaningful trips are the ones that teach you something along the way.

If you’re looking for a Colorado backpacking adventure that combines alpine lakes, wildflowers, mountain views, and an unforgettable campsite, the hike to Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak is one I’ll recommend again and again. Just come prepared, take your time, and don’t forget to look around every once in a while. The destination is incredible, but the journey is what you’ll remember most.