Potato (Spud) Lake Trail is an easy day hike or overnight camp is great for children, offering fishing and picnic spots and plenty of places to camp. The lily pond across from the trailhead provides and intriguing and valuable lesson about lake ecology, while the 2-mile round-trip hike, climbing from 9,360 feet to 9,800 feet, provides plenty of interesting diversions. Beaver ponds exist along this journey and children have the chance to feel the toothmarks in Aspen stumps. When reaching the trout-filled lake, the trail may be followed in either direction. Children may explore the banks and find strawberries and raspberries. Local campsites are available and no camping permits are required. Potato Hill (also called Spud Mountain) is visible from the trail, as well as Engineer Mountain and Graysill Peak and Grizzly Peak.


Location: Head North on Hwy 550,  From Durango, Colorado, Travel 29 miles north of Durango on U.S. Highway 550 to Forest Road 591 (Old Lime Creek Highway), which takes off on the right side of the road at the curve past Cascade Village. Follow for approximately 3 miles to the trailhead which is on your left in a flat area across from a beaver pond.