Maroon Bells. Garden of the Gods. Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado is jam-packed with places that are not only gorgeous but world-famous, but did you know that we also have our fair share of hidden gems that you have never seen before? While we could make a list of these places (oh wait, we have!), we want to highlight one spot, in particular, today, as it appears on list after list of stunning, yet lesser-known places in Colorado:

Tucked away inside the already gorgeous San Juan Mountains are the equally pristine Blue Lakes. 
TripAdvisor/jrog9832
Made up of both upper and lower lakes, the Blue Lakes are some of the most strikingly blue waters in Colorado and are made even more beautiful with the surrounding landscape. 
AllTrails/Jeremy Kuhn
Come to find out, we here at Only in Colorado are not the only publication to think that the Blue Lakes cannot be missed, as national publications have also taken notice and added them to their lists of the best hidden gems in America! 
TripAdvisor/jrog9832

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According to Redbook's 50 Hidden Gems to Visit Across America, "resting in the awe-inspiring glacial circles of Mount Sneffels, it’s no wonder Blue Lakes has crept up the list of the top hiking destinations in the continental U.S.," adding that "when you reach the trail summit and take in the expansive view, you’ll understand why hiking enthusiasts flock to this remote part of Colorado." 
TripAdvisor/jrog9832
In addition to Redbook's glowing review, Blue Lakes was also recently mentioned on Passport Symphony's list of the 15 off-the-beaten-track places in the USA you didn’t know existed, citing that "when I was there I saw only a few other people on the trail, and I believe this is one of the most underrated places in the U.S."
TripAdvisor/Philip F
The Blue Lakes can be accessed via an 8-mile round-trip hike, beginning at the Blue Lake Trailhead off County Road 7.
AllTrails/Ashley Hyatt
To learn more about the Blue Lakes and current conditions, please visit the U.S. Forest Service's website.
AllTrails/Khon Phanyavong

Have you visited this hidden gem? Share your experience and photos with us in the comments! For another pristinely blue Colorado lake, check out You’ll Want To Visit This One Gorgeous U.S. Lake That’s As Blue As The Sky.

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Blue Lakes, Colorado 80424, USA