Hanging Lake is a National Natural Landmark in Glenwood Canyon, reached by a 1.2-mile one-way trail that is steep, rocky and gains about 1,200 feet; the official reservation page gives an average round trip of about 3 hours. A timed-entry permit is required year-round for all visitors at $12* per person, which includes parking at the Hanging Lake Rest Area (I-70 exit 125); reservations are for a 3-hour hiking window, and the rest area is restricted to motorists with permits. There is no westbound exit for Hanging Lake: westbound drivers take Grizzly Creek exit 121 and return east to exit 125. No vehicles over 25 feet in length are allowed, there is no shuttle service to the parking area, and pets other than service animals are not allowed.
*Fees subject to change, please check visitglenwood.com for updated information.
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Hanging Lake, not drive time.
- Eagle County Regional (EGE) — 15 miles
- Garfield County Regional (RIL) — 29 miles
- Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) (ASE) — 31 miles
Live Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
We checked fees, reservations and operating status on 2026-10-14. These change without notice — confirm with visitglenwood.com and codot.gov the week you travel.
Sources — 4 claims, 4 checked against the source
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The permit cost is $12 per person; includes parking (checked 2026-10-14) | Visit Glenwood Springs - Hanging Lake Trail Permits & Reservations (official page) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Timed-entry permit required year-round; all reservations are for a 3-hour hiking window; hours vary by season (checked 2026-10-14) | Visit Glenwood Springs - Hanging Lake Trail Permits & Reservations (official page) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| No vehicles over 25 feet; no shuttle to the parking area; no pets except service animals; private-vehicle pickups must complete by 4:00 pm (checked 2026-10-14) | Visit Glenwood Springs - Hanging Lake Trail Permits & Reservations (official page) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Hanging Lake Rest Area (Exit 125) is restricted to motorists with hiking permits (checked 2026-10-14) | CDOT - I-70 Glenwood Canyon | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |