This is an amazing hike! The parking closure is a pilot program to address the negative impacts of overcrowding on the Eagles Nest Wilderness such as a build-up of waste, trail erosion, and other safety concerns (speeding, illegal parking, emergency vehicle access, etc.) Follow this rough, dirt road about 1.8 miles until it ends at the trailhead. United States government. Pitkin Lake. Incredible lake. After crossing the bridge, the trail steeply ascends for 0.3 km gaining 56 m of elevation, taking you to the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area sign. Pitkin Lake(11,362') is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. I recommend wearing long sleeves, although the bugs bit me through my clothes. . Blodgett Lake 12. Together these gardens contain about 2,000 varieties of plants, including over 500 different varieties of wildflowers and alpine plants. Staying left takes you to Red Sandstone Road via the Buffehr Creek trail. Truly one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done! At the next signed junction, turn right to continue the descent to Buffehr Creek. The town is surrounded by town-owned open space and has several panoramic trails for all types of skills and ages. Boot Lake 16. Park your vehicle in a manner that permits traffic to pass up the two wheel trail that continues upward. The parking lot for Son of Middle Creek trail is 100 yards ahead on the left. The lake is really beautiful. Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. You'll find excellent backcountry camping terrain at the Pitkin Creek confluence (2.95 miles), and in the rolling alpine meadows below Pitkin Lake. Well worth going out there. Parking availability at the trailhead is limited. At mile 3.2, the trail drops to Deluge Creek where you cross Deluge Creek. The Booth Creek Falls trail is particularly stunning in autumn when the aspens are glowing and golden. Fossil Ridge is behind the lake and rises to 12,749 elevation. It scales a ridge and edges back to the valley center (4.25 miles : 11,277'), where it levels beside Pitkin Creek to the south edge of Pitkin Lake (4.45 miles : 11,362'). Gore Creek Campground - Facilities and Campground Information: Pitkin Lake is located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area and Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest. Box 948 Glenwood Springs CO 81602 970.945.2521. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. The Booth Lake Trailhead is located 1.2 miles from Exit #180 of I-70 on Booth Falls Road. per group (up to 8) Smartphone Driving Tour between Boulder and Vail / Breckenridge. Access:Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Be the first to leave a review! See houses this school serves. Great mix of terrain- from woods to meadows to Aspen groves then finally the lake. 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. Pitkin Lake is located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area and Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest. Park in town and take the free bus to the trailhead. Booth Creek Falls, whose intertwined torrents plunge 60 feet, has earned its rep as Vails most dramaticand popularcascade. 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. Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. that impact nearby residents and guests as well. Ted Katauskas Lunch will be served. Alicia Lake Reservoir 3. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Very scenic on the way to the fall. An old homestead marks this site. ", "This was a great hike with some incredible scenery. The Pitkin Lake basin is immense and, to see it all, you'll have to climb a bit up its southeast or southwest shore. 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. Range: Gore Range Coordinates: 39.642967, -106.303029 Elevation: 8,450' Road Difficulty . Beyond the falls the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Access:Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. For those not wishing to camp in the backcountry, there are several developed campgrounds within the White River National Forest. Beautiful memory made today hiking this gorgeous trail featuring wide open views of the surrounding rocky mountains! Access. Wilderness is for your your responsibilities when visiting these special places. The trail winds through meadows and aspen groves which change to conifer stands as the elevation increases. Near mile 2, the views of Vail and Bighorn drainage are exceptional. A welcome sight after a pretty challenging at times hike. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. 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. The trail enters into Vail Golf Course area and continues up Vail Pass to the east and continues to the west, connecting to the Eagle Valley Regional Trail, a 10-mile trail to Edwards. I saw two moose and a small herd of white mountain goats! It takes the whole communitylocals and visitorsto take responsibility into their own hands and protect our trails, and the wilderness experience, for everyone.. 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. Grades moderate past .3 miles (8,955') on a grassy slope between thick aspen stands and the creek. I'm guessing it's the fall foliage. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. At 4.5 km, just past the small creek crossing, continue left on the trail towards the western side of the trail. The Eagles Nest Wilderness is a true wilderness experience, situated in the Summit County area of Colorado. From Buffehr Creek, climb steeply for approximately one mile on an open hillside. Lots of elevation gain in the beginning but it does even out for periods. The streams are easy to cross, use the stones as stepping stones to cross & youll be A-ok. The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 8 min to complete. Not highly traveled. Take plenty of water and some snacks. Park in town and take the free bus to the trailhead. Fallen trees along the trail are evidence of past avalanches. Big Lake. Pitkin Lake is situated nearby to Upper Piney Lake and The Spider. Crowds:This is a very popular trail at certain times of the season. Pitkin Lake Trail The trail plateaus to a disperse aspen forest, offering shade to cool you off after the steep ascent. Box Canyon Lake 20. However, the bugs are extremely bad. Wonderful hike! Official websites use .gov A .gov There are at least six false summits before you actually hit the lake, but worth every step! The river is situated in Eagle County and drains part of the Rocky Mountains at the south end of Gore Range via Gore Valley. 234 Pitkin, James 190 Plumb, Valerie 97 Poole, Martin 83 Richards, Jane 461 Ridge, James 217 . Turn left and continue to the bridge. More information at www.hikevail.net. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. 7 miles by watch GPS. Pitkin #2012. Alpine trails are so cool, crisp and surrounded by those tall majestic mountains making it super splendor! Look for and find the trail head marker that stands alone and is clearly visible. The incline at the beginning is the toughest part of the hike. Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine Well worth the effort to reach the lake, which is deep and crystal clear. Only a handful of spots at the trailhead. Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. It's located just past the Gore Creek Trailhead and holds 25 campsites with picnic tables and fire grates. 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. Want to report conditions for this trail? We strongly encourage taking the freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes, from the Vail Transportation Center to the Columbine stop. Read More Download the Outbound mobile app Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. 18. Pitkin Lake Trail One of the more challenging hikes in Vail, Pitkin Lake Trail is a 10.5-mile, out-and-back trail that carves its way through Eagles Nest Wilderness. Not many people on a Monday. Exit here and turn right (south). Mount Powell is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is one of the most popular climbing destinations in Colorado. - Paul Theroux Its muddy the last mile and a half so be prepared with the right shoes. Pass through many meadows, often filled with wildflowers for 2 more miles to Booth Lake. From the Buffehr Creek trailhead, cross the bridge and proceed about 1/4 mile before turning right at the first junction (the trail to the left takes you to Garmisch Drive). This is a charming place to walk around, shop, look at the stunning architecture, or enjoy a delicious meal. Summit County - Eagle County - Clear Creek County, Buffalo Mountain - Lily Pad Lake Trailhead: Buffalo Mountain, +2,886' net elevation gain (+3,054' total roundtrip elevation gain), "We ended up going to Pitkin when the parking at Booth Creek was full ( terrible parking there - 8 spots). It's possible to continue past Pitkin Lake, crest a ridge and drop into the Booth Lake drainage, with a trail that returns almost to your starting point. To access the trailhead, drive 4 blocks South to the end of 2nd Avenue from Frisco's Main Street. Breakfast at Pitkin's has been a family tradition for generations. Summer and fall hikers should find an open trail. June 24, 2021 * There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. At about 2.5 miles - halfway to the top - you'll get a good view of Pitkin Falls. Crowds:This is a very popular trail at certain times of the season and parking can be very limited. website belongs to an official government organization in the Blodgett Lake. You will see and experience a lot of phenomenal scenery during this hike. The Gardens are open to the public year-round. Bus to Hike:Take the freeSandstone busand get off at the Vail View/Red Sandstone bus stop. Above 10,000 feet the trees thin and the terrain changes offering views of the Gore Range. At mile 4, the trail forks; crossing Gore Creek leads you over Red Buffalo Pass to Summit County (7 miles from the trailhead to Red Buffalo Pass), the left fork goes to Gore Lake (6 miles from the trailhead to Gore Lake). 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta. Proceed north from the roundabout on the north side of I-70. The last 1/4 mile to Booth Lake is steep and rocky. Length:4.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left. Better yet, park for free in one of the public garages at Vail, Lionshead, or Beaver Creek villages and confine your exploration (and impact on the wilderness) to the in-bounds terrain on those mountains. Walk up Booth Falls Road a 1/4 mile to the trailhead. For a map of the trail, please visitHiking Project. ) or https:// means you've safely Easily accessibly, short, but sometimes mildly strenuous 3.5 mile (roundtrip) hike. More information at www.hikevail.net. After about 20 minutes, youll arrive at a couple of fishing ponds followed by an equipment storage yard, but dont worryfrom here the trail gets a lot more scenic, with one section circumnavigating Grouse Mountain. Walk east 1/3 of a mile up Bighorn Road (under the overpass) to the trailhead. If youre so inspired, continue up the trail, through thinning conifer forests and wildflower meadows offering glimpses of the Gore Range, for another 2.5 miles (and another 1,680 feet in elevation) to Booth Lake.Distance: 1.8 miles each way (to the falls)Elevation gain: 1,800 feetDifficulty: ModerateGet 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 beaver ponds and the remains of old mining camps as well as Bighorn Falls. 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. The trail climbs through forest and meadows past Booth Falls, a 60-foot waterfall. Several spots for a pup to grab water. Follow CR771 north to the Gold Creek Campground parking area which is 6.80 miles north of Ohio City. . For a map of the trail, please visitHiking Project. A 9.7-mile trail, this is for experienced hikers who want to gain some elevation (2,746ft) along the way. Be mindful of false spurs along this shifting segment. From here the trail enters an aspen stand, and openings along the way provide scenic views to the south and east. 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