Fossil Ridge is behind the lake and rises to 12,749 elevation. You'll find excellent backcountry camping terrain at the Pitkin Creek confluence (2.95 miles), and in the rolling alpine meadows below Pitkin Lake. The incline at the beginning is the toughest part of the hike. Proceed west on the North Frontage Road for 1/4 mile. Only used to identify you to ProTrails. Take a walk on the not-quite-so-wild side this summer to preserve the valleys most-hiked trails. 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. There is limited parking at the end of the road. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Difficult but not impossible, long but 100% worth it! Will not show on comments list. begging to be jumped into if not for the chill. Pitkin lake trail in East Vail, Colorado is similiar to the popular Booth lake trail in that the final destination is a scenic mountain lake. At about 3.75 miles in the trail crosses the west fork of Pitkin Creek and there is a large campsite past that crossing. After 1.3 miles of climbing, keep right on the North Trail. Turn right and make another right and drive about .2 mile east. Over the first lung-busting mile of the trail, youll ascend steeply through lush aspen groves, then catch your breath as the grade mellows, traversing Booth Creek to the cascade. Trail Photos Photography by This trail is so pretty. The Meadow Mountain trail follows an old logging road above Dowd Junction. Pitkin, LA Weather Forecast | AccuWeather Current Weather 7:26 AM 62 F RealFeel 63 RealFeel Shade 63 Air Quality Excellent Wind N 1 mph Wind Gusts 4 mph Cloudy More Details Current Air. The trail begins from the south end of the parking lot near the white house. Ample parking at 8 AM. Trail is mostly in great shape. Ted Katauskas Contact the Holy Cross Ranger District for information on these sites. In a quarter mile, the you will reach the parking area for Pitkin Lake Trail. 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. There is a $16 fee, and 10 day occupancy limit. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. After passing a beaver pond on the right, cross Buffehr Creek. At mile 3.0, the trail enters a large meadow where the Piney River and Meadow Creek merge. Lunch will be served. Saw several marmots on the way from the fall to the lake. Access:Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. It takes the whole communitylocals and visitorsto take responsibility into their own hands and protect our trails, and the wilderness experience, for everyone.. Turn left onto Big Horn Road and then turn right onto Fall Line Drive. 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. Grades 9-12 public. Supervisor's Office 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). Continue for another 200 m and you will reach the creek, rushing on your right. Grades moderate past .3 miles (8,955') on a grassy slope between thick aspen stands and the creek. Another short, steep push to 3.8 miles (10,975') moderates in a transitional forest beneath towering, sculpted walls of the upper valley. SagaCity Media | 921 SW Washington St, Suite 750 | Portland, Oregon 97205, By And all require you to work hard to get there. Near mile 2, the views of Vail and Bighorn drainage are exceptional. Can see a little bit of the front of the fall, but the back is fantastic! The lake is almost exactly 2 miles from the parking area. Access:Parking is extremely limited at the trailhead. Fallen trees along the trail are evidence of past avalanches. . My wife and I ( both in our 50s) loved the hike. There are a few steep/rocky spots, but plenty of flat runs to give your legs the much needed rest. The trail head for Lake Pitkin is located just off of I-70 on Fall Line Rd in Vail. ", "This was a great hike with some incredible scenery. From Denver, take I-70 west to Vail and exit 180, your first exit on the right. Parking is very limited at this trailhead. Agreed, Booth Lake and that area are absolutely gorgeous. Be the first to share your experience. The Gore Valley Trail runs the length of the Gore Creek/Vail Valley. Mount Powell is a mountain in Summit County. But wilderness is managed differently. 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. It is about 5 miles one way and can take anywhere from 5-8 hours round trip with most people taking around 6 hours. Wearing proper foot wear will enhance your hiking experience. Motorola Moto G (2nd generation) Battery Replacement. . 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. The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. For those not wishing to camp in the backcountry, there are several developed campgrounds within the White River National Forest. The Fifty/50. The Minturn Mile is best accessed after spending the day at Vail, but can be done so with skins and skis from the base. Pitkin Lake Trail makes for an adventure-filled day hike. Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet. Big Lake 8. Mount Powell is home to many different wildlife species, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and eagles. Aspens still holding leaves for the most part. At the signed junction with West Grouse Creek trail at 1 mile, keep left. From these points you'll also have great views back down valley that reveal hidden meadows, ponds and streams. Lots of huckleberries! 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. At the next signed junction, turn right to continue the descent to Buffehr Creek. Pitkin #2012. Length:7.0 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. 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. Stay right here. Not many people on a Monday. Gradually, the trail ascends the valley, past two waterfalls, to the stunning lake that sits below East and West Partner (two 3,960 m peaks). Starting in Lionshead, Vail, CO take the Gondola 19 up to the top of the mountain and head west straight out past Chair 26 and towards the Vail Mountain Wedding deck. 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. (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). Please take the FREE bus from the Vail Transportation Center. After a number of false summits, the trail reaches Pitkin Lake, nestled beneath an arc of gray granite in the alpine tundra. Trail Adopted By:Eagle River Water & Sand District, Length:3.4 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. Pitkin Lake Choosing between the four East Vail trailheads that provide access to the Gore Range is a bit like choosing between entrees at Sweet Basil. Bus Tours. There are some short steep sections along the way. Big Pine Lake 9. Wilderness is for your your responsibilities when visiting these special places. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The river is situated in Eagle County and drains part of the Rocky Mountains at the south end of Gore Range via Gore Valley. This is the trailhead on the right. 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. After a number of false summits, the trail reaches Pitkin Lake, nestled beneath an arc of gray granite in the alpine tundra. Length:4.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. Well worth going out there. Took about eight hours. Trail Highlights:The trail climbs steeply from the trailhead through aspen groves for the first mile. Mapcarta, the open map. Use right two lanes to take exit 180. Big Spruce Lake. Want to report conditions for this trail? Do not park in undesignated areas; there are only four designated parking spaces. 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. The trail drops down the west side, bottoms out (2.0 miles : 9,715'), and climbs ruggedly out of the meadow with great views back down valley, and NE toward Pitkin Falls (2.5 miles : 10,087). Turn right onto Red Sandstone Road and proceed for 1.3 miles to a gate and the second of two intersections with the North Trail. The freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, runs every 30 minutes from the Vail Transportation Center to the Booth Falls stop. Fishing is permitted along Pitkin Creek and at Pitkin Lake with a valid Colorado fishing license. The pictures below exhibit wintery scenes I took in May, 2013, before the snow melted. Every trip I have had the pleasure of taking into the Gore Range has left me sore, battered and bruised. 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. 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. It ascends through meadows, aspen, and conifer forests, offering views in all directions until it meets the Whiskey Creek trail at mile 2. Pitkin Lake is in Colorado and has an elevation of 11,388 feet. Very easy to navigate and really can't get lost. Be mindful of false spurs along this shifting segment. Blue Lake 13. The variety is great so spend time stopping and looking both going and coming. He wasnt super aggressive, just seemed curious but he definitely got way too close for comfort at times. Winter parking restrictions begin in November limiting parking to 3 hours according to a sign posted. Two night max stay. Views of the Gore Range abound. Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. 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. Not highly traveled. Saw lots of mountain goats and a snake. Then, the trail climbs more gradually following along Booth Creek through mostly aspen groves before passing Booth Falls. Beaver Lake 6. . Crowds:This is a very popular trail at certain times of the season and parking can be very limited. Great exercise hike, definitely got your leg muscles a workout! Take your time & enjoy it & takes tons of pics! Trail Adopted By:Howard Head Sports Medicine, Length:4.8 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. We have standards for how many groups of people a user should interact with on a hike. Overcrowding not only has physical effects, but its also degrading the wilderness character as defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964., In particular jeopardy, she notes, is a core principle of the Act, which defines wilderness as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain., I worry about our trails getting over-loved, Bazan stresses. However, the bugs are extremely bad. 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. Courtesy Photos, 06/24/2021 Established in 2008, this West Town sports bar's popularity helped launch a local empire, the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group. Youre in the trees majority of the time but you get breaks out of them with great views. Booth Lake 17. 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. The trail continues climbing after the bridge to its junction with the North Trail at 2 miles, then gradually meanders through a lodgepole pine forest for another 1.5 miles to its terminus at Lost Lake Road. ( Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. 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. Pitkin Lake sits around 8.0 km in, dramatically surrounded by tall, gray granite walls and alpine tundra. An old homestead marks this site. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. 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. The trail winds through meadows and aspen groves which change to conifer stands as the elevation increases. Most people turn around here, but you can continue 0.75 mile on the trail to reach the east trailhead. 10,030' elevation. It wasn't slippery at all. Continue onwards to Booth Lake for a real butt-busting challenge with killer scenery. 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