American Lake is in the Castle Creek valley, southwest of Aspen, Colorado. It's in the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness Area. Like nearby Cathedral Lake, it's a popular hike for both the scenery and proximity to the famous ski town.
I had hiked there once before, but the skies were cloudy, and I wasn't terribly pleased with my photos. We had perfect weather for the hike and for photography yesterday, and here's what I brought back.
 |
| the upper half of the trail passes through pine groves |
 |
| the gray jays, known as camp-robbers, are used to seeking food from hikers |
 |
| visitors are struck by the beautiful color of the lake |
