Devils Thumb Lake is located 5.45 miles from the Hessie Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It lies at treeline below the Continental Divide and eponymous Devils Thumb spire. The lake is long and narrow, shrouded by dense krummholz and hemmed in by a rock wall beneath the eponymous Devils Thumb spire.

An outlying pond near Jasper Lake

Looking over the Devils Thumb Lake basin on the descent from Devils Thumb Pass (11,775')

The initial climb to Jasper and Devils Thumb Lake levels off in this spectacular meadow

Devils Thumb Lake, still surrounded by deep snow on July 4

Ponds dot the vast tundra between Devils Thumb Lake and Devils Thumb Pass

Steep snowfields on the final approach to Devils Thumb Lake

Much of Devils Thumb Lake is bound by thick willow and krummholz; access is more open on the far west shore

Devils Thumb Lake, early fall

The trail continues above Devils Thumb Lake to Devils Thumb Pass and the High Lonesome Trail

The landscape opens considerably just past and above Devils Thumb Lake

Despite its size, access is limited on Devils Thumb's east side

Jasper Lake; Devils Thumb Lake is 1 mile further up-valley

Treeline gives way to open tundra above Devils Thumb Lake

Summer wildflowers line the damp trailside

The trail crosses Jasper Lake's outlet and begins a more strenuous course through a busy forest