Hanging Lake is one of the most photographed spots in Colorado — a jewel-coloured lake caught on a travertine shelf high in Deadhorse Canyon, fed by waterfalls that cascade through dense green vegetation. The water is impossibly clear, turquoise-blue from the dissolved minerals, and the setting looks like something from a fairy tale.
The hike to reach it is short but steep: about 1.6 km from the trailhead with around 360 metres of elevation gain on a rocky, rooted trail. Access is tightly managed — you must book a permit in advance through Recreation.gov, and shuttle buses run from Glenwood Springs (private vehicles cannot park at the trailhead). All of this is worth the planning. Going to Glenwood Springs and skipping Hanging Lake would be like going to the Grand Canyon and staying in the car.