Cathedral Lake to Electric Pass Trail

Great views from the top of Electric Pass, but I felt like getting there was a bit of a slog. The views up to the saddle are ok, but it’s pretty much the same view until you reach the top. IMO, I didn’t feel it was worth the extra time and mileage to go up past Cathedral Lake. The last 100 vertical feet or so up to the pass is up a steep, faint trail through scrabble, & is highly exposed. I went on a weekday, and there were only two other cars in the lot.

Beautiful hike up to Electric Pass. There was a little bit of mud past the Lake/Pass fork and a little bit of snow above the saddle. But, those things were easily avoidable. There was not a cloud in the sky - just some smoke haze. Even then you could see Snowmass and Capital. It is amazing how much snow is on some of the surrounding mountains.

What a phenomenal hike! Among my favorite in Aspen, and perhaps my top. The stunning peaks, the lake, and the saddle at the top provides a mesmerizing view.

Enjoyed the hike. It is an exposed t rail all the way. No Shade. This provided grest views. but it got hot. I suggest an early start.

The wildflowers are in full bloom on this trail. I didn’t make it all the way to the pass because the bushes were grown over the trail and with shorts it wasn’t fun. Great views of Cathedral Lake though.

Have been on dozens of hikes this month all around the Aspen/North Fork area and this is by far my favorite. The day we went we were the only ones hiking from Cathedral Lake to Electric Pass, which was great given the crowds to get up to the little lake. The meadows, streams, views of mountains and rock falls all around from the valley, which is the first part of the hike after the initial ascent all beautiful. Long switchbacks up to the pass (highest named pass according to one source! at 13,500) make the climb do-able. And hold on to your hat up top - it was crazy windy, enough to steal one of ours! Would not attempt this with any hint of weather. Note the name.

no snow. gorgeous. crowded. get there early. followed trail signs not app

Worth the hike, I made it up To the top of electric pass yesterday and the views are absolutely stunning. A little bit of snow but nothing hard you can just go around and pick it up the trail ahead.

the trail all the way to electric pass peak is now clear of snow, except for a few small patches that can be avoided. no need for any equipment eg microspikes/snowshoes. sensational views!

Too much snow to make it to the lake but a great and challenging hike the 2miles we made it in. Crampons/snow spikes for your shoes and walking stick a must right now to get through.

The first part up to the lake is quite steep, I was pretty exhausted going all the way up the pass. Most people camp overnight but I did it in one shot so I was quite tired for the second half. The beautiful views were worth it. A bit cloudy but still lots of sun all the way until I started heading down around 4:30pm.

Recording did not register on way down. Descent took 1:10. So 3:35 total including walk partway around cathedral lake.

Lovely hike with gorgeous views both at the lake and on top of the pass. It is definitely moderate to hard depending on how acclimated you are. You will gain 1000 ft. in elevation in the first 1.3 miles. The wildflowers are still stunning! I definitely recommend getting there early to fight the crowds and get a parking spot at the trailhead.

Highly suggest going to Cathedral Lake before going back and completing Electric Trail; it’s a lovely space where to take a break, grab a snack and possibly dry your feet and shoes from crossing the river. Impossible not to stop and admire the views throughout the hike.

Hiked this trail yesterday, and I absolutely loved it! The views are stunning, and it was a really fun hike. The trailhead is super easy to find and has free parking, though it isn’t a huge lot so it could be difficult to snag a spot during busy hours. The dirt road to get there (cathedral lake road) is rocky and uneven, but my versa rental managed it just fine. I reached the top in about 2 hours, spent a good amount of time admiring the view (can’t emphasize enough how insanely gorgeous it is up there), and then jogged most of the way back down due to an encroaching storm for a total trail time of 4 hours. Overall the trail is in good condition; however, snow still covers some areas of the trail, and there are a few muddy patches from runoff. The avalanche debris has been cleared out of the way for the most part and wasn’t really an issue. There is currently a big patch of snow blocking the last stretch of the path from the saddle over to the notch in the cirque wall (standing at the edge of the snow patch places you within about 50 feet of the notch). The slope is steep at this point, and the snow is sitting on top of loose, highly unstable scree. Not having hiking poles or micro spikes and just wearing chacos, I decided against attempting to cross the snow and couldn’t find a good alternate route. Another hiker came up shortly after me who had hiking poles, but due to the steepness and instability of the slope he too ended up ending his hike there. Regardless, this was one of my all-time favorite hikes! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun hike with plenty of variety in scenery and a very rewarding view from the top!! For a more detailed description of the trail, check out Protrails.com - it breaks down each segment of the trail and what to expect.

We hiked this trail on July 10, stopping at Cathedral Lake and then continuing to Electric Pass. The trail was in good condition up to 12,000 ft. Above that we had to cross some snow fields. We reached the saddle at 13,160 ft without a problem, but further up a large snow field blocked the regular route to the final point at 13,465 ft. We met hikers who went to the top along the ridge, but that path required scrambling on loose scree, so we turned back without reaching the very end. A great hike overall, with amazing views of Cathedral Lake and surrounding mountains.

This was difficult on two days acclimating from Oklahoma. We started out at 7:45 AM and reached summit by noon. We were back down before 2:30. We had a beautiful day for the hike and didn’t have to worry about weather. I would have started a little earlier if weather was in question. Views along the way and at top are incredible!

Talk about a dope lake...And that Cathedral...Hike to the top of Electric Pass is tough but worth the vista off both sides. Little sketchy as I traversed across the final ridge line due to no fall zone. Definitely recommend the hike to the lake + the extension.

Beautiful hike! Air was a little thinner than I was used to, so be ready to take some breaks on the way up. About a thousand feet below electric pass there's a meadow with a few spots that are great for putting up a tent as long as you're expecting good weather. Be prepared for it to get cold at night, though. It easily drops 20 degrees as soon as the sun goes below the horizon. Beautiful hike!

Great hike.. Get an early start if doing the electric pass, cloud build up possible after 11 unless clear day.. Total of almost 12 miles of you stop at the lake. We finished it in 8 hours..

What a view from the top! According to our measurements it was a 3500 ft climb and 7 hours to the top and back down to the car.