The Small Town Lakes In Colorado That Are An Idyllic Summer Day Trip
By Christy Articola|Published June 16, 2023
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Christy Articola
Author
Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
There’s nothing quite like going on a road trip at the peak of the summer. In Colorado, that usually means a trip to the mountains, and one of the best places that you can go on a summer drive is Twin Lakes. Twin Lakes, Colorado, is a pair of lakes in the center of the state, and it’s also a small, historic town named after them. You’ll love visiting these picturesque lakes and marveling at the tall mountains that surround them – including Mount Elbert, our state’s tallest – and you’ll enjoy checking out the small town on their shores that has a population of less than 200 people.
Twin Lakes is a lovely little town to spend time in on a summer day.
The actual Twin Lakes are two glacier-carved lakes in this area. They were dredged to be made larger, and they serve as reservoirs to store water for the Front Range. Both the east and west lakes are popular for recreation.
This town came to be when James V Dexter bought land here in 1883 and took over the local hotel. He renamed it the Inter-Laken and, for many years, it was one of the most popular resorts in the state. It's been abandoned since 1908, but you can still visit the main building by boat.
You'll probably want to spend a lot of time on the lakes, though. Boating is allowed on them. Lots of people come to these lakes to kayak and paddleboard.
As you can see, Twin Lakes may be small, but it has everything you need to have a wonderful day trip to the mountains. Head on out that way soon and take it all in – and have a great summer!
Looking for more ideas for Colorado day trips? Check out our Colorado Day Trip page for some inspiration.
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