Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Appendix E: Hanging Lake Recreation History <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Hanging Lake is a small natural lake located in the heart of Glenwood Canyon <br />and tucked into a small side canyon less that 1 mile above busy Interstate <br />Highway 70. It has been a popular recreation site for over 100 years. The <br />city of Glenwood Springs was granted the right to select lands for public park <br />purposes designated in an Act on June 7, 1910. Hanging Lake was maintained as <br />a City Park from 1924 to 1972, then it was deeded back to the Forest Service_ <br />During it's days as a City Park, the Hanging Lake Resort was a popular spot for <br />dinner, dancing, and of course guided horseback trips to the lake. <br /> <br />Just prior to construction of the Hanging Lake rest area and the completion of <br />1-70 through Glenwood Canyon, the fragile lake was visited by over 50,000 <br />people annually who came to view the scenery and wildlife. With the facilities <br />completed annual visitation has jumped to an estimated 110,000 people in 1996. <br /> <br />In 1971, a boardwalk and viewing platform was constructed by the Forest Service <br />and local Boy Scout Troop to protect the fragile lake shore from damage by the <br />heavy use. The Glenwood Springs Kiwanis Club then adopted the trail and has <br />performed annual maintenance to keep it in good shape. However, the boardwalk <br />deteriorated to the point where routine maintenance could no longer keep it in <br />safe condition. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Boardwalk replacement, accomplished during the summer and fall of 1994, would <br />have cost over $100,000 if done by a contractor. Instead, money for materials <br />came from donations from trail visitors, and was matched by the local <br />communities. The Region 2 pack string was used to haul all the materials to <br />the site. Over 8 tons of materials - 90 mule loads - were hauled up the <br />trail. Tearing out the old boardwalk and constructi~g the new one was done by <br />the Kiwanis and Forest Service crew. The government ended up paying $6,000 for <br />the entire project. <br /> <br />Benches have also been constructed over the years, carved out of the native <br />trees that fell along the trail, fu,d are placed along the trail in cool, shaded <br />spots. The cool and shade is provided by the rushing waters of Deadhorse <br />Creek, which not only nurtures the dense vegetation and old fir trees, but also <br />sprays the visitor with a refreshing spray. Although the trail is little over <br />1 mile (one way), it is steep and most people stop frequently along the trail <br />to catch their breath and enjoy their surroundings. <br /> <br />At 110,000 visitors, Hanging Lake is probably the most heavily used trail in <br />the State of Colorado; it was in 1992 with 50,000 annual visitors. Partners, <br />volunteers, and donations keep the trail maintained so that no damage occurs to <br />the fragile lake area. The parking lot at the Hanging Lake rest area was <br />constructed with only 100 parking spaces to limit the use; users now travel <br />along the recreation path from Glenwood Springs or Grizzly Creek. <br /> <br />In reviewing the trailhead register, during the period from March 30 - April <br />15, 1996, 150 parties registered with half being from Colorado, and the other <br />half visitors from 26 states and 9 foreign countries. During the period from <br />June 1 - June 19, 1996, 550 parties registered at the trailhead, half being <br />from Colorado and the rest, visitors from 43 states and 14 foreign countries. <br />A trail counter recorded 3204 users during this 19 day period in June. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />23 <br />