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Piney Lake is a half hour’s drive north of the mountain resort of Vail, Colorado, although the road is rough, narrow and with a steep drop-off (lotsa fun when you’ve pass someone going in the opposite direction). Piney Lake is a natural lake in a lovely valley adjoining the Gore Mountain Range. There’s a pleasant campground, and rustic lodge at the lake (which are behind me from the perspective in the photo) where they feature a nice ranch dinner followed by a campfire cowboy show and marshmallow roast that’s a lot of fun for families.
You can rent a canoe for a quiet paddle on the lake, go on a horseback trail ride, or fly fish in the Piney River. But I love to hike here! A nice easy trail follows the north (left sided) shore of the lake, through the valley and up the foothills of the distant mountains, ending in a lovely cascading waterfall (and further on to another lake if you’ve got the energy). It’s an excellent day trip hike if you’re visiting Vail.
A family of moose live in this valley and you’ll frequently see them when visiting Piney Lake.
