Some interesting theories about the origin of Mud Lake have emerged. It is interesting to note that the lake settled on a ridge and is perfectly round. Some have thought the lake may have been created by miners, some have guessed the lake had glacial beginnings. Geologists from the University of Colorado theorize it was a meteoroid. Radiocarbon 14 dating showed the lake was formed around 4,500 years ago which is far too young to have been formed by galciers.
Mud Lake has all the characteristics of an impact crater.
The fact that it is perfectly round and that there is a partial raised rim around the lake which would be consistent with a meteroid origin. Small mountain ponds are normally along a stream and triangular in shape. Mud Lake is not on a stream and it is actually on a ridge between two streams.