Sylvan State Park Lake Loop

Hiking the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop

The Sylvan State Park Lake Loop hike is a lovely trek around Sylvan lake. The mile and a quarter to mile and a half hike can be started at the picnic area or the dam and makes its way around the perimeter of the lake. This trail leads anglers to some great fishing spots but is also a great way to see the beauty of the lake for hikers and walkers as well.

Sylvan State Park

Sylvan State park is a beautiful park located near Eagle, Colorado. It is anchored by Sylvan Lake which is a 42 acre lake that is perfect for paddleboarding and fishing. No swimming is allowed at the lake. There are also a few cabins and several campsites available at the park as well as a handful of hiking trails. Day use is allowed and there is a large picnic area right by the lake. More information about the park can be found on their website.

The Loop

The Sylvan Lake Loop travels around the edges of Sylvan Lake and can be started on the East or West bank of the lake. I started on the east and found that a little more narrow but really easy to manage. It starts by the day use lot and the picnic tables and the first thing to notice is how amazing the views are of Sylvan Lake.

The lake is surrounded by tall hills with white capped mountains in the distance given off those Swiss alps vibes and it is really lovely and peaceful. After the views there were a couple other things that I noticed. First, the bugs definitely loved to stay close to the water. They were abundant but not really that much of a nuisance. Second, Sylvan lake is amazingly clear. There were so many fish swimming in the shallows and the water was crystal clear.

There is no swimming at Sylvan Lake but there were a few people out on the lake on paddleboards and floats fishing. That allowed the water to stay a little calmer and quieter. On the southern edge of the loop, there is a small little feeder river that is really cool. It is back in the woods a bit but still on the trail. That is followed by the western side of the trail that is a bit wider and easier to hike. In a short time you are back at the dam enjoying those amazing views and wrapping up the short but amazing hike around Sylvan Lake!

The Views

I focused on some of the unique features of the lake loop in the above section but I couldn’t pass up talking about the views. This was honestly one of those perfect Colorado days. Blue skies mirrored the lake. The wind was gentle and the waves were softer. Most of the snow had melted, except on the far away mountain tops. The hillsides around, glowed green with the spring melt. It was just such a lovely day.

Sylvan lake is far enough off of the highway that it isn’t super crowded. The five mile dirt road from the visitor center makes it feel like a private lake despite it being full the day I visited. It was almost hard to stay on the trail as I was fixated on the water and couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

This was one of the most relaxed days I had spent walking around a mountain lake. It was so nice, I sat and just started at the water on one of the picnic tables for an hour or so after my hike. The banks were full of people casting lines into the water and people having lunch. It was such an amazing experience and I couldn’t bring myself to get back on the road.

Make sure to check the gallery below to see even more pictures of my Sylvan Lake Loop hike.

Video of the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop Hike

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 1.22 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 72 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 8572 feet. I was also moving for a total of 34 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The Hike around Sylvan Lake at Sylvan State Park is one of the easier hikes that I have done. It is mostly flat with just a small bit of elevation gain. There are some narrow bits of trail but nothing that is too hard to handle. I think most people will be able to handle this hike.

Terrain

The trail around Sylvan Lake is well traveled and hard packed dirt for most of the summer. It is a single file trail that is mostly narrow but wide enough for one person comfortably. A majority of the trail is exposed to the sun and elements with no shade with just a small portion under trees. Make sure you have sun and weather protection if you hike here. Also, being so close to the lake, there were a lot of bugs flying around so some bug repellent would be a good idea.

Access to the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop

The Sylvan State Park Lake Loop trail is located at the lake which is down a five mile dirt road once you enter the park. There is day use parking near the picnic tables where the trail starts. This is part of the Colorado State Park system and there is an entry fee of $10-17 or an annual Colorado Parks pass may be used. More information can be found on their website.

Wrapping up the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop Hike

I had seen the signs for Sylvan State Park a couple times on I-70 as I passed by Eagle and never had time to stop. This time I planned to make time and was so glad that I did. The Sylvan Lake Loop hike was one of the most relaxing and beautiful hikes I have done. It completely recharged my batteries.

There are also several other hikes up into the hills around the lake that I can’t wait to explore on my next trip out west. For a one and done, its hard not to enjoy the amazing namesake of the park. Sylvan Lake is definitely worth a trip!

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Sylvan State Park Lake Loop