Fish Lake
Fish Lake Trail is a 12.3 miles trail in San Juan National Forest, Colorado. The Forest Service rates it trail class 2, moderately developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters South San Juan Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The San Juan National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 37.2204, -106.7241 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 37.2524, -106.6350 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 12.3 miles |
| Trail class | 2, moderately developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 574 |
| Forest | San Juan National Forest (unit 0213) |
| States | Colorado |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- South San Juan Wilderness WildernessFS · about 90% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
No season published · listed none | 0 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Fire nearby
- WildfireSwiss Roll
10 mi from the trail midpoint · 775 acres · 0% contained
- PrescribedWolf Creek Piles Rx
16 mi from the trail midpoint · 1 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Fish Lake Trail?
12.3 miles, the sum of the 2 segments the Forest Service records under this name in San Juan National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Fish Lake Trail?
hiking and horse and pack stock. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Fish Lake Trail start?
The line begins at 37.2204, -106.7241 and ends at 37.2524, -106.6350. The nearest recorded trailhead is Fish Creek Trailhead, 0 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Fish Lake Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters South San Juan Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Where can I camp near the Fish Lake Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
How developed is the Fish Lake Trail?
Trail class 2, which the Forest Service describes as moderately developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Fish Lake Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Fish Lake Trail?
San Juan National Forest, Forest Service unit 0213. The trail is in Colorado.
Is there a fire near the Fish Lake Trail?
2 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Swiss Roll at 10 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named FISH LAKE in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0213. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.