- Date hiked: 09/20/2020
- Hiked from: Wild Basin Trailhead
- Distance hiked: 9.1 miles – 1 way
- Total elevation gain: 3,320 ft
- Maintained trail: No. Trail is Maintained up to Thunder Lake.
- Overall Difficulty: 9/10 – One of the toughest lakes to reach in RMNP. The climb from Eagle Lake is 1,000 vertical feet of elevation gain in 1 mile.
- Overall Views: 9/10 – Commanding views of Eagles Beak and up close to Moomaws Glacier. A truly magical place.
One of my favorite places in Rocky Mountain National Park is Frigid Lake. Located deep east in the Wild Basin. Sitting at the base of Eagles Beak, and fed by Moomaw Glacier, this less visited tarn is truly incredible.
Video of our Hike to Frigid Lake
Getting to Frigid Lake
The hike up to Frigid Lake will require some work though. From Thunder Lake, follow the faint trail that sometimes gets lost, up to Box Lake. Ascend the small shelf from Box Lake to Eagle Lake.
Walk the north shore of Eagle Lake until you reach the west shore. Here there are a few ways you can go, just do your best to avoid large patches of krummholz.
We decided to hike west alongside the stream to a unnamed pond, then headed up to Frigid Lake. Staying close to the outlet water from Frigid Lake, it became a waterfall scramble that’s considerably more difficult than ascending Timberline Falls up to Sky Pond.
Some spots up to the top of the shelf were extremely dicey due to the wet rock. I’m sure there was a better route but we enjoyed the scrambling.
Pictures of Frigid Lake and Moomaw Glacier
Once on the shelf, walk across some boulders to the east shore of Frigid Lake. The wind was calm this day. We enjoyed the views of Eagles Beak and listening to small chunks of Moomaws Glacier break off and fall into the tarn.
If you decide to make the long, steep journey to Frigid Lake you will most likely be the only ones there. Eagles Beak can draw experienced climbers that want to make the Class 3 climb to the summit. Those that want to continue the adventure can also ascend up the ridge of Isolation Peak, down to Isolation Lake, and return via the Bluebird Lake trail. This route will lead you past 4 more lakes, Isolation Lake, Pipit Lake, Lark Pond and Bluebird Lake. This is a route I have not personally accomplished yet.
