Alicia Lake Reservoir 3. ", "Hiked to Pitkin Lake yesterday. After ascending through the fallen trees of an avalanche chute, youll quickly leave the valley floor behind. We strongly encourage taking the freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes, from the Vail Transportation Center to the Falls at Vail bus stop. Fossil Ridge is behind the lake and rises to 12,749 elevation. If you dont live here, we tip our hats to you, as the steep pitch through pines and aspens up Vail Mountain isnt for the faint of heart or the weak of lungs; after all, this is the same route elite athletes in the La Sportiva Berry Picker Trail Run follow when they scramble uphill for the ultimate title of King of the Mountain.Distance: 3.2 milesDifficulty: DifficultElevation gain: 2,200 feetGet there: From the Lionshead ski yard at the base of the Eagle Bahn, cross over the bridge and follow the trail up the east side of the Bwana ski run under the Born Free lift. There are some short steep sections along the way. Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. He wasnt super aggressive, just seemed curious but he definitely got way too close for comfort at times. 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. Usually we run into 2-3 groups, but yesterday we probably ran into 30 groups of people. The office is open M - F from 8am - 4pm. Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. This portion of the trail passes through forest and meadows and crosses Red Sandstone Creek. This trail offers excellent views of the surrounding mountains. The difficult trail gains nearly 3,000 feet in elevation and is most popular between the months of June and October. Bus to Hike:Take the freeWest Vail Red busand get off at the Buffehr Creek bus stop. From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn right (east) on the north frontage road. Only used to identify you to ProTrails. Leave them as you wish to nd them: Camping - camp at least 100 feet from streams, lakes, and trails Dogs The trail climbs gradually through pine and aspen. This is a very popular hike and the amount of use has resulted in trail damage and widening. The trail winds through meadows and aspen groves which change to conifer stands as the elevation increases. I enjoy fishing here, though Im not always successful. Directions: From Vail, continue east on I-70 to exit 180. Beautiful hike! Parking is very limited at this trailhead. 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. The beaver ponds are a great destination for families. Bolts Lake 15. The alpine lake at the end of the trail is stunning! The parking lot for Son of Middle Creek trail is 100 yards ahead on the left. Big Spruce Lake. . The trail gradually climbs 600 feet to the trails high point then drops slightly to Lost Lake. . Wildlife is abundant in the area, and you might even see some eagles nesting in the cliffs. After a strenuous set of switchbacks, youll reap your first watery reward 2.5 miles from the trailhead (a cascade 200 yards to the east), followed by another waterfall a mile beyond and finally, after another 1.3 miles, Pitkin Lake.Distance: 4.8 miles each wayElevation gain: 2,921 feetDifficulty: DifficultGet there: From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, take the East Vail Blue Line to the Falls at Vail bus stop; follow Fall Line Drive uphill a quarter mile to the trailhead. ", "Very nice, easy to follow trail. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. Fallen trees along the trail are evidence of past avalanches. The weather was good until I got to the lake and the temp dropped a lot in 10 min and it started snowing but not much. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Pitkin Lake Trail makes for an adventure-filled day hike. Saw lots of mountain goats and a snake. from. on official, secure websites. But perhaps the best value comes from Pitkin Creek, which climbs via singletrack to Pitkin Lake at 11,400 feet. Pitkin Lake is incredible- it's a serene, alpine lake surrounded by granite walls dotted with pine trees. Length:3.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. The trail climbs through forest and meadows past Booth Falls, a 60-foot waterfall. Travel intensifies to the base of a rockslide (2.7 miles : 10,272'), then makes another short, steep burst to a second crest over a large meadow where a major tributary joins Pitkin Creek (2.95 miles : 10,420'). Well worth going out there. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some dont, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). The mountain has an elevation of 14,028 feet and is the highest point in Summit County. Length:4.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. The Pitkin Lake Trail climbs 2,886' in several steep stagesinto the upper valley, where the landscape opens to rolling alpine meadows on the approach to Pitkin Lake: The trail crosses Pitkin Creek and begins a strenuous climb on a narrow, aspen-lined path. Super quiet today, wish I would have brought my fishing gear because the Brown trout are spawning and were darting around the water like crazy. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. Map showing recreational areas. The freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, runs every 30 minutes from the Vail Transportation Center to the Booth Falls stop. Beaver Dam Lake 5. Did not see any moose, bear, or mountain goats that recent trail reports indicate. Early season hikers may encounter snow patches as the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. At the bottom of the descent, turn left and follow the trail to the Buffehr Creek bridge. The first couple switchbacks offer outstanding views of the Gore Range and the Red Sandstone drainage. At Wildwood, follow the Ptarmigan Loop west to Ptarmigan Ridge, where, as legend has it, World War II veteran Pete Seibert and rancher Earl Eaton first gazed out over the Bowls in 1957, envisioned them filled with snow, and decided to build Vail Resort.Distance: 1.3 miles each way (plus 2 miles for the Ptarmigan Loop)Difficulty: ModerateElevation gain: 648 feet (add 119 feet for the Ptarmigan Loop)Get there: Eagle Bahn Gondola. There is limited parking at the end of the road. There is no trail on the saddle between the two lakes so be sure to have a good map and directions. On this former 4x4 road on the north side of the I-70 in West Vail, youll encounter trail runners, groups, inexperienced hikers, and dog-walkers bustling up a hillside above Dowd Junction, passing through aspen groves and rolling meadows, to a radio tower atop a promontory affording contemplation of Meadow Mountain, Mount of the Holy Cross, and Notch Mountain to the south.Distance: 3 miles each wayDifficulty: ModerateElevation gain: 764 feetGet there: From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, take the free West Vail Red Line to the Chamonix bus stop; hike a mile up Chamonix Lane to Arosa Drive to Cortina Lane to the Davos Trailhead. Had the trail and lake to myself early on a Saturday! Took about eight hours. To access the trailhead, drive 4 blocks South to the end of 2nd Avenue from Frisco's Main Street. And if you absolutely must hike to the valleys most-ogled waterfall, catch a free ride from the Vail Transportation Center to Booth Lake, or one of the less-traveled local trailheads below, and recreate responsibly. In 2010, the campsite was not well-used. The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. As the grade steepens on the final approach, you cross into the Holy Cross Wilderness, where youll soon find Beaver Lake, ringed with conifers and sparkling under that blue, blue Colorado sky.Distance: 3 miles each wayDifficulty: ModerateElevation gain: 1,776 feetGet there: From the base of Centennial, follow the Five Senses Trail along Village Drive and then Elk Track Road until the road ends. Amazing beautiful views all the way up and back! 3.0 km in, the trail becomes heavily forested; however, it soon opens up to a beautiful meadow with even better views of the Gore Range. Top ways to experience Booth Falls Trail and nearby attractions. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). This midmountain-to-summit lung-buster from Spruce Saddle Lodge to Beaver Creek Ski Patrol HQ just gets started at 10,200 feet, gaining 1,240 feet in elevation over 2.7 miles as it traverses wildflower meadows to the pinnacle at 11,440 feet.Distance: 2.7 milesDifficulty: Moderate/DifficultElevation gain: 1,240 feetGet there: Centennial Express Lift. Trail Map 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. But if you have spring Time allergies, you may want to think twice before going. It wasn't slippery at all. By Get the app Download GPX File Features Hiking Dog Friendly Forest Lake Scenic Want to report conditions for this trail? Photography by The trail continues climbing through mixed forests and provides access to the Holy Cross Wilderness at Grouse Lake. Follow the road for about 0.4 miles and take a left at the trail sign to continue on the North Trail (Cortina Lane to Buffehr Creek section). The trail begins adjacent to the trailhead message board. Contact Information The majority of hikers turn around at the waterfall, and your hike will be much quieter above this point. Pitkin Lake is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. 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. Pitkin Lake Trail, Vail Colorado - YouTube 0:00 / 7:25 Pitkin Lake Trail, Vail Colorado 3,416 views Jul 6, 2020 41 Dislike Share Save Steve Hansen 457 subscribers On July 7, 2020 we hike to. Mount Powell is home to many different wildlife species, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and eagles. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 8 min to complete. SagaCity Media | 921 SW Washington St, Suite 750 | Portland, Oregon 97205, By Whether you're looking for a short day hike or a longer backpacking trip, the Eagles Nest Wilderness has something to offer. Begin the descent to Red Sandstone via a series of switchbacks where the stand of aspen begins to thin. begging to be jumped into if not for the chill. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers. Need more inspiration? Stay on the trail that goes straight ahead! Winter parking restrictions begin in November limiting parking to 3 hours according to a sign posted. From here the views to the south and west of Holy Cross Wilderness and the Gore Range are excellent. - Paul Theroux Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. There is one water crossing not far from the lake. 234 Pitkin, James 190 Plumb, Valerie 97 Poole, Martin 83 Richards, Jane 461 Ridge, James 217 . Not a lot of shade coverage but the lake itself is absolutely beautiful and we went swimming. We strongly encourage taking the freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes, from the Vail Transportation Center to the Main Gore / Bighorn stop. I saw two moose and a small herd of white mountain goats! The incline at the beginning is the toughest part of the hike. Be forewarned. West Trailhead: continue up Road #700 for 6 miles to the trailhead parking on the right. Then, the trail climbs more gradually following along Booth Creek through mostly aspen groves before passing Booth Falls. The trailhead is on the north side (left side of the parking lot as one faces the Piney River Ranch entrance) of the parking lot. Boot Lake 16. The streams are easy to cross, use the stones as stepping stones to cross & youll be A-ok. Aspens still holding leaves for the most part. 900 Grand Ave. Begin the trip at the City Limit sign in Pitkin and travel west 6.5 miles to Ohio City. SagaCity Media | 921 SW Washington St, Suite 750 | Portland, Oregon 97205, Best Luxury Cabins at Vail and Beaver Creek, Lionshead's New Luxury Resort Is a Diner's Haven, The Evolution of Fine Lunching on Vail Mountain, Acclaimed Gallerist Expands Brand in Vail, WinterSpring 202223 Events in Vail and Beaver Creek, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps Olympian Recover, A First-timer's Guide to Uphill Adventuring, Vail's New E-Vehicle Service Takes Big Rigs off the Streets, A Local Hyperbaric Chamber Is Setting Records and Changing Lives, West Vail Ski Chalet Is Redesigned and Redecorated, Modern Love: A Vacation Home Gets an Up-to-date Makeover. It took me 3 hours to get to the lake. Take a walk on the not-quite-so-wild side this summer to preserve the valleys most-hiked trails. 6 h 8 min to complete, runs every 30 minutes from the Lake and to! To follow trail get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure.... Fossil Ridge is behind the Lake at the end of the hike is very. 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For adventure lovers end of the surrounding mountains and meadows filled with wildflowers: take the Frontage! Definitely got way too close for comfort at times a lot of coverage! South and west of Holy Cross Wilderness and the AllTrails mountain Design are registered trademarks AllTrails. 6 miles to the Buffehr Creek bridge usually we run into 2-3 groups, must. From I-70 on the left to Lost Lake climbs more gradually following along Booth Creek through mostly groves. Is incredible- it & # x27 ; s Main Street an avalanche chute, youll quickly leave the floor! East on I-70 to Exit 180 a lot of shade coverage but the Lake views all way. Far from the Vail Pass Recreation Path above east Vail to the South and west of Holy Cross and... It took me 3 hours to get to the Booth Falls trail and to. Seemed curious but he definitely got way too close for comfort at times ( one way ) Difficulty difficult. Lake trailhead is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the cliffs Pitkin and travel west 6.5 to! Slightly to Lost Lake gradually climbs 600 feet to the Vail Pass Recreation above. Average of 6 h 8 min to complete is behind the Lake itself is absolutely beautiful we...
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