Bell Lake Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Fishing · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Road in can be rough to get to the trailhead. The trail itself follows an old mining road for a portion that is also used by fourwheelers, so be on the lookout for those.

The trail begins in the Potosi Creek drainage, several miles past the popular Potosi Campground. It follows an old road and climbs steadily, passing through meadows filled with wildflowers and the occasional trickling stream. The trail is very exposed, slick with loose gravel and rocks, and steep in sections. Keep an eye out for cows, as open grazing is permitted in the area.

Wildflowers appear throughout the trail, becoming increasingly abundant as you gain elevation. Around 2.75 miles in, the trail veers to the right into the woods. On a sunny day, this shady stretch offers a welcome reprieve and marks the end of the road portion of the hike.

The next section features steep, tight switchbacks that crisscross an extremely steep road as it ascends sharply to the bench where the lake sits. Uniquely, the southern side of the lake appears to have been shaped by an old landslide. Fine sediment from the slide gives the lake a striking turquoise hue.

As you traverse the packed clay and mud of the landslide zone, you'll notice trees with branches dipping beneath the surface—some half-buried, others toppled over. Looking up the mountain, more trees grow out of barren dirt mounds, resembling a giant hand sculpting the slope like a child at the beach.

Looking back toward the trail's end at the lake, the dramatic drop makes it seem as though the terrain falls away into a void. These dramatic views and unique geological features make the hike well worth the effort—despite the exposure and frequent bugs.

Cattle grazing, lots of bugs, and wildflowers can be spotted on the trail