Hike to Odessa Lake

Starting from the always-buzzing Bear Lake Trailhead, you'll climb steeply through dense pine forest — the kind of relentless uphill that makes you question your life choices for the first mile. But push through, because the trail breaks open into Odessa Gorge like a curtain parting on a stage. Grace Falls appears in the distance, a silver thread against dark rock. The gorge narrows as you descend toward Odessa Lake itself, tucked into a granite amphitheater that feels almost ceremonial. The lake is fishable if you packed a rod and a Colorado license. At nearly nine miles round-trip with a serious elevation punch, this trail filters out the casual crowd — by the time you reach the lake, you'll have earned your solitude. This one rewards hikers who want more than a postcard view and don't mind working for it.