Eureka Lake
To get to Eureka Lake drive to Westcliffe on 69, when you get to the blinking stop sign, turn left (east) on main street/hwy 96 go a couple blocks and turn right on Highway 69 (south). There will be an "antlers liquor store and motel on this corner. Take 69 south a few blocks and turn right (west) on hermit lane/hermit lakes road/CR160 all the same. There will be a gas station on your left at this intersection. Once on hermit you will be able to see the road go across the valley and up into the trees keep going till you get to the trees then the road veers to the left. There is a stack of small signs follow the one for hermit pass. It is not far from this point about 5 miles or so but it does take time because of how rocky the road is. There are several areas to park and walk into Eureka Lake, all are above treeline on the pullouts before Horseshoe Lake. If you've past Horseshoe Lake you have gone to far. With the snow gone the trail is easy to follow. Some of the pull outs above Hermit Lake offer good camping spots, if full Hermit Lake also has some very good camping spots.
Pikes Peak cutthroat trout (mut cutthroat stocked from the Pikes Peak Hatchery) can be found in Eureka Lake. Fish tend to be larger at Eureka Lake then at Hermit or Horseshoe Lake. This trail is do able in any stock vehicle with high ground clearance but take it slow. It is usually Ice free and accessible around mid-June. Eureka Lake is at Latitude: 38.0842' and Longitude: -105.6361 with an elevation of 11,936 ft.
Flies I have had success with at this lake include, hopper patterns, stimulators, and matt's midge. Hardware that worked for me there would include panther martins in black or orange.
To view more pictures of the trails, mines, and lakes check out our Eureka Lake Gallery.