. Aspens still holding leaves for the most part. Pitkin Lake is incredible- it's a serene, alpine lake surrounded by granite walls dotted with pine trees. Walk up Fall Line Drive a mile to the trailhead. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta. Saw one hiker moments after getting to lake, saw one more moments after we started down trail. Alex Spring Reservoir 2. Travel east from Vail on I-70 to Exit 180 for East Vail. Whether you're looking for a short day hike or a longer backpacking trip, the Eagles Nest Wilderness has something to offer. Mount Powell is home to many different wildlife species, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and eagles. There is NO SIGN on the main trail to help you find the trail that leads to the right off the main Lamphier Lake trail. Length:0.7 miles (one way)Difficulty:Easy. . If visiting the ranch, you can drive further to their parking lot. More information at www.hikevail.net. Distance: 10 miles roundtrip. Box Canyon Lake 20. The pictures below exhibit wintery scenes I took in May, 2013, before the snow melted. Phone repair; Tablet repair; Computer repair; Smart Watch Repair; Franchise; Official info (631)676-7111 . The trailhead is on the left at the first turn in the road. Turning right will take you to the remainder of the North Trail. This stunning 4-bedroom home was designed by Lake Flato Architects and features beautiful custom furnishings. Campfires are not permitted above or within .25 miles (440 yards) of treeline, or within 100' of any lake or stream in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Contact the Holy Cross Ranger District (970.827.5715) for the latest on weather, trail conditions and trail-specific usage guidelines when planning your trip. Take a walk on the not-quite-so-wild side this summer to preserve the valleys most-hiked trails. It is a beautiful trail. Leave them as you wish to nd them: Camping - camp at least 100 feet from streams, lakes, and trails Dogs At the traffic circle take the third exit and continue on South Frontage Rd. Have you done this adventure? Length:3.7 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. Stay on the trail that goes straight ahead! Begin the descent to Red Sandstone via a series of switchbacks where the stand of aspen begins to thin. Access:Parking is extremely limited at the trailhead. Its muddy the last mile and a half so be prepared with the right shoes. We didn't mind that at all as it was a spectacular experience! Town of Vail Hiking Information for Lost Lake Trail Length : 3.73 miles (one way) Difficulty : Easy From the trailhead, the trail follows a ridge dividing the Piney and Red Sandstone drainages while traveling though lodgepole pine and aspen groves. Turn left and continue to the bridge. From here, climb steeply for approximately one mile on an open hillside. . We decided to hike this trail today b/c said sunny all day. Access:The Gore Valley trail is accessible from various points throughout the Town of Vail. Youre in the trees majority of the time but you get breaks out of them with great views. Stay left here. Here is a picture of the sign. Distance: 1.8 miles each way (to the falls) Elevation gain: 1,800 feet Difficulty: Moderate Get there: From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, take the East Vail Blue Line to the Booth Falls bus stop; walk a quarter mile up Booth Falls Road to the Booth Lake trailhead. The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. Be mindful of false spurs along this shifting segment. SagaCity Media | 921 SW Washington St, Suite 750 | Portland, Oregon 97205, By At mile 6.7 you will pass the Lost Lake Trail parking lot on the right and then reach an intersection where the Muddy Pass/Moniger Road goes left. Only made it half way. We dont want to tell people they cant use the wilderness; its really beneficial. Walk east 1/3 of a mile up Bighorn Road (under the overpass) and you will see the Deluge Lake Trailhead first, then Gore Creek Trailhead farther down the road. Campfires are permitted for dispersed camping in the backcountry, with potential seasonal restrictions. Break out of treeline just as you reach Pitkin Lake at 11,360'. Stay right here and descend the Son of Middle Creek trail to the Spraddle Creek trailhead on the north side of the I-70, Exit 176. Lunch will be served. This description will assume you have access to the lifts at Vail by parking at one of the many resort/town parking areas. Proceed north from the roundabout on the north side of I-70. Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. ) or https:// means you've safely
At mile 3.0, the trail enters a large meadow where the Piney River and Meadow Creek merge. Scenic vistas of Mount of the Holy Cross and Battle Mountain are prevalent throughout the hike. There is a porta potty. Booth Creek Falls, whose intertwined torrents plunge 60 feet, has earned its rep as Vails most dramaticand popularcascade. Not many people on a Monday. Please respect this valued piece of Eagle County history by not disturbing the cabin remains. Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. From Buffehr Creek, climb steeply for approximately one mile on an open hillside. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). Trail Adopted By:Manor Vail Lodge (East) and Slifer Smith & Frampton (West). Get the app Download GPX File Features Hiking Dog Friendly Forest Lake Scenic It fills a large cirque just above treeline at the head of a broad, glacier-carved valley. Only a handful of spots at the trailhead. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. But maybe it was meant to be. Blodgett Lake 12. ", "Wildflowers at the top were at their peak!!! connected to the .gov website. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. Along the way, there are good views of Vail Mountain. Take the creekside Five Senses Trail, which begins near the base of the Centennial Lift, and follow it along dirt roads and pathways with some interpretive signs in spots. Kimberly Gavin, 12/07/2022 In 2010, the campsite was not well-used. Trail Highlights:The trail climbs steeply from the trailhead through aspen groves for the first mile. The trail continues to climb gently and then curves around into a drainage of mixed pine and aspen. Park your vehicle in a manner that permits traffic to pass up the two wheel trail that continues upward. Beaver Dam Lake 5. The gorgeous trail starts off steep, but it quickly (after roughly 1.6 km) levels out. Pitkin Lake is in Colorado and has an elevation of 11,388 feet. Big Lake 8. 1. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6'. To access the trailhead, drive 4 blocks South to the end of 2nd Avenue from Frisco's Main Street. A vault toilet is available. But perhaps the best value comes from Pitkin Creek, which climbs via singletrack to Pitkin Lake at 11,400 feet. Current weather for Pitkin Lake area Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. My watch tracked it as 11 miles / 3050 ft, Gorgeous! Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. From Denver, take I-70 west to Vail and exit 180, your first exit on the right. Be the first to leave a review! ", "Hiked to Pitkin Lake yesterday. Pitkin Lake is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Trail Adopted By:Eagle River Water & Sand District, Length:3.4 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. It wasn't slippery at all. Range: Gore Range Coordinates: 39.642967, -106.303029 Elevation: 8,450' Road Difficulty . Tell us when your experience with this trail happened. Turn to the north and proceed on North Frontage Road to Red Sandstone Road #700. Trip Reports The trail bends northwest through an expanding alpine landscape and shoots up the valley's west side through the vestiges of treeline (4.0 miles : 11,072'). However, the bugs are extremely bad. Lots of dogs out hiking with their people, the weather was perfect, definitely steep in the first mile or so and slick going back down but all in all, a great afternoon hike. We didnt hike the entire whole thing but super awesome! From the trailhead, the trail follows a ridge dividing the Piney and Red Sandstone drainages while traveling though lodgepole pine and aspen groves. The trail ends at a recently-refurbished homestead cabin located on private property. First mile is little work but it levels out nicely. Grades moderate past .3 miles (8,955') on a grassy slope between thick aspen stands and the creek. At about 3.75 miles in the trail crosses the west fork of Pitkin Creek and there is a large campsite past that crossing. Around mile 3, the trail passes through open meadows and stands of subalpine fir and Englemann spruce, offering a chance to see the Grand Traverse, a continuous 12,000 foot ridge connecting all the peaks and high drainages of the Gore Range. Length:7.0 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. Leaving Eagles Nest, keep one eye on the wildflowers and the other on the Vail Valley unfolding below as you climb and traverse across the mountains frontside to Wildwood, a promontory at 10,981 feet, then return to Eagles Nest via the Ridge Route for even more spectacular scenery.Distance: 1.3 milesDifficulty: ModerateElevation gain: 643 feetGet there: Eagle Bahn Gondola, Traversing the spine of Vail Mountain there and back from Eagles Nest to Wildwood, youll enjoy tremendous views of the Back Bowls and the Sawatch Range (including Mount of the Holy Cross) beyond. The mountain has an elevation of 14,028 feet and is the highest point in Summit County. From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn right (east) on the north frontage road. Great mix of terrain- from woods to meadows to Aspen groves then finally the lake. Mount Powell is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is one of the most popular climbing destinations in Colorado. Continue on the Everkrisp trail, climbing slightly before descending into EagleVail and meeting the Stone Creek trail at mile 4. The hike is very beautiful, peppered with wildflowers and aspens. Beyond the falls the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. The grade levels out somewhat as the trail passes through mature aspen groves and spruce-fir forests and a series of moraines from an ancient glacial retreat. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. The lake is really beautiful. Do not park in undesignated areas; there are only fifteen designated parking spaces. There is a $16 fee, and 10 day occupancy limit. You'll find excellent backcountry camping terrain at the Pitkin Creek confluence (2.95 miles), and in the rolling alpine meadows below Pitkin Lake. June 24, 2021 Above 10,000 feet the trees thin and the terrain changes offering views of the Gore Range. Pitkin Lake near Vail requires a 9.5-mile hike along a trail that climbs 3,000 feet in elevation. Suitable for intermediates who are ready for a little bit more adventure. Its like youre hiking through the forest most the way, in the trees, but still lots of sun. The first mile of the trail is strenuous as it climbs steeply out of the Vail Valley. Breakfast at Pitkin's has been a family tradition for generations. One vertebrae slipped over another. Plenty of parking available. With 62 miles of trails, Beaver Creek offers the most on-mountain summer hiking and biking in the valley, spread across the width of the ski areas three peaks. Most people turn around here, but you can continue 0.75 mile on the trail to reach the east trailhead. Motorola Moto G (2nd generation) Battery Replacement. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. If you're planning to only hike the falls, it's roughly 4 miles rou To get to Pumphouse Falls take Interstate 70 toward East Vail, Colorado, get off at exit 176 S. Frontage Road headed east. Enjoy the view and get ready for several more bench sections that have alternating steep climbs and then beautiful meadows that will be filled with wildflowers in July and August. Walk north mile up Columbine Drive (under the overpass) to the trailhead. At mile 3.2, the trail drops to Deluge Creek where you cross Deluge Creek. It takes the whole communitylocals and visitorsto take responsibility into their own hands and protect our trails, and the wilderness experience, for everyone.. Catch and release is recommended in the high lakes. Seven of them are hikers-only, so you can engage with your surroundings without having to step or dive out of the way of hurtling mountain bikers. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Trail Adopted By:Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance, WEBSITE DESIGN BY GRANICUS - Connecting People and Government, North Trail (Trapper's Run) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Cortina Lane to Buffehr Creek) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Red Sandstone to Son of Middle Creek) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), Son of Middle Creek (CLOSED April 15 June 20), Buffehr Creek Trail (CLOSED April 15 June 20). How To Get There The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is easy to reach from Vail. Gorgeous, long and hard, but well worth it. It fills a large cirque just above treeline at the head of a broad, glacier-carved valley. Great trail that was not too busy with beautiful views. This is a modest 18.5 mile-long river with lots to offer outdoor recreation visitors. Your day will be filled with mountain views, abundant wildflowers, mature aspen and evergreen forests. Take the next right on to Cortina Lane, which will take you to the trailhead. Boulder Lake coordinates: 30.39.304'N, 106.36.254W Travel to Ohio City on Colorado 76, and take the Gold Creek Road, Colorado Road 771. We started around 7am, it had snowed quite a bit the night before so following the trail was tough in a few spots (thankful for the people who walked before us and left some footprints). Pitkin Historical and Community Association. The descend was steep and my back got badly injured shortly after, so I could neither walk or stand for many months after that hike. Need more inspiration? Easily accessibly, short, but sometimes mildly strenuous 3.5 mile (roundtrip) hike. There are spots for about 8 cars at the trailhead. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. At about 2.5 miles - halfway to the top - you'll get a good view of Pitkin Falls. Pitkin Lake is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. A little muddy near the top. 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