Ouzel Lake

Ouzel Lake is a high backcountry lake in Rocky Mountain’s Wild Basin. The nearby NPS campsite sits in spruce and fir on Copeland Mountain’s northeast slope at about 10,020 feet. This is a real hike, not a quick lake stop: NPS lists the site 4.9 miles from Wild Basin Trailhead, with 1,520 feet of climbing and a 4–5 hour walk in. Plan roughly 10 miles round trip. If that’s more than you want today, the waterfalls along the approach make worthwhile shorter turnarounds.

The route passes Lower and Upper Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls before the lake spur. Ouzel Falls is its own stop; it doesn’t mark the end of the walk to the lake. The falls make a worthwhile shorter outing if you’re not up for the full lake trip.

The lake’s outlet forms Ouzel Creek at its eastern end. Copeland Mountain anchors the basin, with Mahana and Ouzel peaks rising around its forested shore. Give yourself time at the water after the long approach. For a photo, include the mountain reflected across the lake and leave some shoreline in the foreground.

Ouzel is an old name for the American dipper, a slate-gray stream bird known for bobbing on rocks and diving underwater to feed. The lake, creek, and falls share the name. Pause by the outlet and look along the moving water for a dipper.

The approach also passes the footprint of the 1978 Ouzel Fire. It started after a lightning strike and burned more than 1,000 acres; the park still records it in its fire history. Burn scars along the trail are a reminder of the fire well before you reach the lake.

NPS lists one campsite and a privy at the lake. Water from the inlet or outlet streams must be boiled or treated, and campfires are prohibited. The site’s bear-resistant food canister rule runs from April 1 through October 31.