Begin the descent to Red Sandstone via a series of switchbacks where the stand of aspen begins to thin. Dogs are permitted on the Pitkin Creek Trail and within the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Blodgett Lake 12. Beautiful leaves and creek. adventures and follow local regulations. However, the bugs are extremely bad. Incredible lake. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. 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. At the top of the switchbacks, take the left fork to join Buffehr Creek trail and continue climbing for 2.8 miles through mixed aspen and conifer forests. Booth Falls, Shrine Pass, Lost Lake Trailhead, and Piney River Ranch are just some of the favorites in the area. Blue Lake 14. Lots of elevation gain in the beginning but it does even out for periods. 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. Wildflowers and wildlife are abundant, which make this trip a fantastic education and play experience for kids.Coordinates for the trailhead and parking lot are: 39.648401, -106.396320 From the parking lot (just before the entrance to Pitkin Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Vail, Colorado. Early season hikers may encounter snow patches as the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Check out this 16.9-km out-and-back trail near Vail, Colorado. 10,030 elevation. Beyond the falls the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Box Canyon Lake 20. Only a handful of spots at the trailhead. Trip Reports 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. Wearing proper foot wear will enhance your hiking experience. Proceed west on the North Frontage Road for 1/4 mile. At 5.6 km, while passing through a meadow flush with creeks, a cascading waterfall will be on your left. connected to the .gov website. The trail moderates on the edge of a thinning forest (3.35 miles : 10,765'), relaxing for a spell through small clearings and spruce stands. Beautiful memory made today hiking this gorgeous trail featuring wide open views of the surrounding rocky mountains! Winter parking restrictions begin in November limiting parking to 3 hours according to a sign posted. I'm guessing it's the fall foliage. 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. Aspen School District No. Bolts Lake 15. Pitkin Lake is incredible- it's a serene, alpine lake surrounded by granite walls dotted with pine trees. Summer and fall hikers should find an open trail. Youll get a ticket. The trail then flattens out a bit, and you reach Booth Falls at mile two. Youre in the trees majority of the time but you get breaks out of them with great views. You will see and experience a lot of phenomenal scenery during this hike. 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. This trail enters the Holy Cross Wilderness regulations are posted at the trailhead. more info: No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Beautiful paved path popular for walking and biking with great mountain, aspen trees, and stream views. We didnt see much wildlife, but that could have been because of the snowfall. This is a beautiful 60 ft waterfall that allows for easy rock climbing and hiking through the stream upstream of the falls. . Details:Including directions, a map, and other information can be found on thisprintable Recreation Quicksheetfrom the Forest Service. Mill Lake is at 11,470 elevation. Motorola Moto G (2nd generation) Battery Replacement. Trail Adopted By:RA Nelson, Town of Vail Employees, Length:3.0 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. But wilderness is managed differently. Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness, which has special regulations to protect wilderness resources. From here, the trail begins to steeply ascend towards the alpine tundra where Pitkin Lake resides. This is a great destination for families. A welcome sight after a pretty challenging at times hike. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. From the fork, both forks climb steeply though spruce and fir forest into the alpine tundra. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. Holy Cross Ranger District 24747 US Highway 24 Minturn, CO 81645 970.827.5715, White River National Forest 900 Grand Ave. P.O. Follow CR771 north to the Gold Creek Campground parking area which is 6.80 miles north of Ohio City. Big Lake 8. Classic menu options like sausage biscuits and gravy, made in-house corned beef hash, eggs benedict and griddle items - including our famous blueberry pancakes - are complemented by a variety of omelets, breakfast sandwiches, and lighter fare. Dogs are permitted; while they do not need to be on leash, they do need to be under verbal control in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. The Pitkin Lake Trail climbs 2,886' in several steep stages into the upper valley, where the landscape opens to rolling alpine meadows on the approach to Pitkin Lake Be mindful of false spurs along this shifting segment. The Lower Piney Trail follows the Piney River downstream through meadows and aspen forests. Saw lots of mountain goats and a snake. We dont want to tell people they cant use the wilderness; its really beneficial. Pleaseconsider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. An official website of the Parking is very limited at this trailhead. Managed by CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE ASPEN SNOWMASS, LLC Jennifer Fulton. It is a beautiful trail. Beautiful trail, nice mix of forested trail and open meadows, several streams. To access the trailhead, drive 4 blocks South to the end of 2nd Avenue from Frisco's Main Street. Continue up the Mill Lake trail at your own pace. Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine Overall though insanely beautiful and a great backpacking spot. Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead; do not park in undesignated areas. . 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'). At the signed junction with West Grouse Creek trail at 1 mile, keep left. A mountain goat- we decided to call him Timothy- followed us around for the entire day. There is limitedparking at the trailhead. Have you done this adventure? June 24, 2021 A 9.7-mile trail, this is for experienced hikers who want to gain some elevation (2,746ft) along the way. After passing a beaver pond on the right, cross Buffehr Creek. Pass through many meadows, often filled with wildflowers for 2 more miles to Booth Lake. Be mindful of private property in the area and only park in designated spaces. The Booth Creek Falls trail is particularly stunning in autumn when the aspens are glowing and golden. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. Trail was all ours remainder of hike. Exit here and turn right (south). One thing I learned here is that the weather channel says one thing, but the actual weather is completely opposite . Borah Lake 18. Not many people on a Monday. for 2.5 miles, turn right into the small parking lot next to the Nordic ski track. Length:VariesDifficulty:Varies Crowds:Varies. . Continue north approximately another 1/2 mile, ascending a series of switchbacks, to the North Trail junction and stay right. Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. To preempt a repeat performance this summer, Vails Town Council in March banned parking at the trailhead and on nearby streets, levying steep fines for violators (first offense: $100, second offense: $200, strike three: $300) and offering free town bus service instead. It seemed a lot longer than 4.5 each way- but was worth it. A bit buggy up at the lake, but nothing horrendous. Length:0.7 miles (one way)Difficulty:Easy. Campfires are permitted for dispersed camping in the backcountry, with potential seasonal restrictions. 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). Most people turn around here, but you can continue 0.75 mile on the trail to reach the east trailhead. Photography by The Pitkin Trail begins in East Vail and ends at Pitkin Lake: The first mile of the trail is strenuous as it climbs steeply out of the Vail Valley. At the top of the switchbacks, take the right fork to stay on the North Trail (the Buffehr Creek Trail departs the North Trail and heads left/north). Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead. The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens are the world's highest botanical garden, located at 183 Gore Creek Drive, Vail, Colorado, United States, at an 8,200 feet altitude in the Rocky Mountains. MANCHESTER Concordia Lutheran Church, will host a Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 40 Pitkin St., with a baked goods table. Take a walk on the not-quite-so-wild side this summer to preserve the valleys most-hiked trails. After enjoying your well-earned time at the lake, follow the same trail back, through Pitkin Creek drainage, to finish your hike! Three hours up, 2 hrs 35 min down. I had to turn at the 2nd brook. 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'). The trail plateaus to a disperse aspen forest, offering shade to cool you off after the steep ascent. We dont want to tell people they cant use the wilderness; its really beneficial, says Bazan, manager of Wilderness and Trails for the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District. Boot Lake 16. Phone repair; Tablet repair; Computer repair; Smart Watch Repair; Franchise; Official info (631)676-7111 . Great exercise hike, definitely got your leg muscles a workout! LockA locked padlock 900 Grand Ave. The trail is gentler now, and you can follow the creek to the lake where view to the Sawatch Range and Mount of the Holy Cross emerge. Trail Adopted By:Vail Public Safety, Vail Recreation District, East West Partners, Town of Vail Employees, Marriott Streamside, Length:3.73 miles (one way)Difficulty:Easy. The mountain has an elevation of 14,028 feet and is the highest point in Summit County. It's a short distance before the trail makes a left turn to begin a steep ascent out of the valley to Pitkin Lake. There is limited parking at the end of the road. 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. Pitkin Lake is located in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area and Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest. Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. Views from here are excellent as this is one of the two highest points on the entire length of the North Trail. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness regulations are posted at the trailhead. Above 10,000 feet the trees thin and the terrain changes offering views of the Gore Range. Exit here, turn left, and pass under the interstate. The lake is really beautiful. It climbs through meadows that were once home to a very prosperous lettuce farm. Whether you're looking for a short day hike or a longer backpacking trip, the Eagles Nest Wilderness has something to offer. Will not show on comments list. See houses this school serves. Overcast skies on way down, 72 degrees at end. This trail is so pretty. After 1.3 miles of climbing, keep right on the North Trail. 10. Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. Current weather for Pitkin Lake area Break out of treeline just as you reach Pitkin Lake at 11,360'. This trail offers excellent views of the surrounding mountains. Length:3.6 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. Break out of treeline just as you reach Pitkin Lake at 11,360'. Very scenic on the way to the fall. From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn right (east) on the north frontage road. Crowds:This is a very popular trail at certain times of the season and parking can be very limited. Big Spruce Lake. 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