Wheeler Lake

4.4/5 (37 reviews)
Alma, Colorado (Park County)
Last Updated: 04/12/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

When you think of Colorado offroading, what do you think of? Maybe majestic snowcapped peaks, fields of wildflowers lined with pine trees, or crystal-clear mountain lakes? Well, if you have the rig to do it, Wheeler Lake checks all of those boxes! Located in the Pike National Forest, Wheeler Lake is the quintessential Colorado high-altitude offroad adventure. From the towering peaks (some of which are 14ers) that surround you as you ascend a thick and lush vegetated valley to the mining remnants from the past, Wheeler Lake will have you and your passengers looking out the windows in every direction right from the get-go. Although the scenery along the way will pull your attention away from the trail, don't let it - this trail has a few tricky obstacles that will give mildly built rigs a run for their money, and even very built rigs will have an opportunity to really stretch out. Flopper, V-Notch, and Bowling Ball Hill are all aptly named obstacles that will stand in your way before your final ascent up to Wheeler Lake. At the end of this trail, you will be experiencing Colorado at its finest - a picturesque, crystal-clear mountain lake fed by snowmelt from the surrounding peaks, all within reach of your offroad rig, of course. Bring your family, bring your friends. Wheeler Lake is one of those trails that, if it's not on your Colorado bucket list, it needs to be.


Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.4/5 (37)
6050
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 09/16/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Great day running this trail, cloudy and trying to snow on the way to the lake and sun comes out when we got to the lake & for the rest of the day! Perfect temps, only saw two side-by-sides and a few hikers on the trail all day! I would say the low rating should be 6, I’m on 37’s and lockers and had no problems but scraped quite a few times and got hung up and had to try again a couple times on the hardest sections. This trail is definitely harder than Red Cone and Radical hill but has the same low end rating. Short trail but slow going the whole time makes it a great day trip!
17950
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 08/20/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

Busy trail and very wet which made everything a bit more challenging since the tires didn't want to hook up. View from the top was great but overall kind of a lack luster the rest of the way. Again, very busy and not a lot of room to pass. Bowling ball hill was especially not my favorite.
Open
Visited: 08/12/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Go up during the week. Not another vehicle on the trail just a couple of hikers. This trail never disappoints. Try and run it once a year.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/07/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The trail was quite dry and very passable. The second v-notch can be slippery, so 3 Jeeps almost slide in on passenger side. Otherwise, this is a great trail and one I can't wait to do again.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/05/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

I am still a bit new to Trails Offroad but love the App for discovering these treasures like Wheeler Lake! Did want to give a dedicated overview of this trail for others like myself that use the trail reviews while planning your next trip. First of all, this is one of if not the most beautiful trails I have been on! Pictures do not do any justice! It was raining 85% of the time and only passed one side by side the entire trail. Difficulty is challenging for the easier lines if you are not in something with 37"+ size tires and lockers. I am sure not having any spotter, rainy, and wet conditions added to the challenge for me but still agree with the trail rating. Anything under 37s, skid plates are your best friend.....not talking about the stock or aftermarket aluminum either. After the switchback up Bowling Ball Hill, there is a rough spot that a boulder is sticking out of the high bank that caused a little carnage for us. Awesome trail that is no joke that can be a challenge. Hind site, probably should not have ran solo but made it all just fine!

From the Community

Start a free trial and get this level of detail on every trail guide
Start Free Trial