The 2016 hiking season was about spreading out and exploring more of Eagles Nest Wilderness, Indian Peaks Wilderness and touching on White River National Forest - and of course a few trips into Rocky Mountain National Park. These are amazing National treasures. This season came in just under 132 miles of hiking. What a great season!
Missouri Lakes
September 18, 2016 · The weather on the hike to Missouri Lakes was perfect, could not have asked for better mid-September weather for a hike. The Missouri Lakes are a chain of high alpine lakes are breathtaking. It's not longest hike, coming in around seven miles, and should be part of a longer hike, which I plan on going back and completing. The fall colors and the granite against the blue sky are vivid and striking; this would be a great leg on a multi-day hiking trip.
Pear Lake
September 10, 2016 · Pear Lake is a hidden gem in RMNP, the lake is breathtaking. It was a beautiful mid-September day. The hike comes in around thirteen miles roundtrip. I only came across one couple, at Pear Lake and they were on their way out. It's September so the winds can whip up, from time to time at the lake the winds sounded like a jet engine, then died off just as quickly as they came, leaving complete silence in its wake. This would be an excellent place to camp.
Watanga Lake
September 4, 2016 · The hike to Watanga Lake was a quick hike, coming in just under nine miles roundtrip. I think it was quick because of the weather and a good portion of the trail is under a thick canopy. The weather was a bit of a mixed bag. At the start of the hike the fog was very thick, and the cloud cover was very low. It did rain a couple of times during the hike as well as at Watanga Lake. It's a nice getaway-solitude spot. Once the rain passed the skies cleared up it was a beautiful day.
Deluge Lake
August 20, 2016 · Deluge Lake is a high alpine lake just above treeline. It's a nice length hike, just over nine miles roudtrip. This is one of the trails just across the highway from Vail - like many of these trails just across the highway from Vail, they have a steep incline to jump up to the glacial valley. The weather was a bit of a mixed bag, sometimes perfect blue skies other times it looked like it was about to rain or snow. Deluge Lake is beautiful, I was reluctant to leave, I would love to return to this lake as a multi-day hike. These Gore Range Lakes are spectacular.
Nokoni Lake
August 13, 2016 · The hike to Nokoni Lake is a long hike, coming in around 18 miles round trip. I would love to go back and do this hike again as a multi-day hike. Nokoni Lake is very tranquil and peaceful. The weather started to turn south, and I decided to opt out of the last leg to Lake Nanita. There where a lot of deer on the trail and I did get to see some moose as well. Would loved to have been able to spend more time there.
Pawnee Lake
July 30, 2016 · The hike to Pawnee Lake is a beautiful hike, long but very pretty. This is hike that is better suited as a 2-day event. There are portions of the trail that run along a valley floor and go quickly; this is Moose country. The last pitch to Pawnee Lake is a little challenging, but that may have been because I did this in as a day hike. I ran across a couple of groups of people, mostly on their decent from Pawnee pass and on they way out. Given the length of the hike, I got very lucky with the weather. Would love to do this hike again but as a multi-day hike.
Spruce Lake
July 23, 2016 · The hike to Spruce Lake is a nice hike. I have been to this lake before - last year as a matter of fact. For most of the hike I had the trail to myself, I only saw two people at the lake and they were on their way out, so I had some good time to myself at the lake. On the downside this is the hike I lost a GoPro camera I was wearing.
Doughnut Lake - Cut Short
July 17, 2016 · This was supposed to be a long hike to Love Lake, Arrow Lake, Inkwell Lake, Doughnut Lake, Azure Lake & Highest Lake. However, I got a late start and even with the GPS the cutoff for the lakes didn't make sense after a while; the list of excuses as to why I missed the mark on this hike goes on an on.
Boulder Lake
July 9, 2016 · The hike to Boulder Lake was a quick and easy hike for me, it was over before I knew it. The lake itself is pretty and secluded - a nice quiet spot that quick and easy to get to. Probably should be a leg of a longer hike. It was a beautiful day with big blue skies.
Gore Lake
June 25, 2016 · Spring as sprung and the Spring Runoff is going strong. Everything is so very green, and the rivers are very full and very fast. The water in the rivers looks so cold, as if it could freeze with a passing shadow. Gore Lake was still partially frozen over, but what a sight to see. This is one of the very easy access trails, though the trail is not for beginners, but easy access to the trailhead as it is right across the highway from the Vail ski resort. Beautiful day, beautiful hike.
Flattop Mountain
June 18, 2016 · The hike to Flattop Mountain is a good hike to restart the hiking season, hike comes in around 9 miles roundtrip. It's a good hike to start the season with as you get a sense of how much snow is left and it takes you above treeline - good to get the heart and lungs going for the upcoming season. When the weather is nice, like it was on this hike - though a bit breezy at the top, it is a pretty hike as you get to experience a lot of different terrain.
MORE SEASONS ON THE TRAIL
AREAS HIKED
Collegiate Peaks Wilderness10
Eagles Nest Wilderness10
Fossil Ridge Wilderness1
Fraser Experimental Forest1
Gunnison National Forest1
Holy Cross Wilderness12
Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness3
Indian Peaks Wilderness15
James Peak Wilderness4
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness2
Mount Evans Wilderness2
Mount Massive Wilderness2
Pike National Forest1
Raggeds Wilderness1
Rocky Mountain National Park41
San Isabel National Forest6
Sangre de Cristo Wilderness2
White River National Forest10
Zirkel Wilderness1
TRAILS BY MONTH
January3
February2
March2
April3
May5
June16
July26
August26
September28
October6
November5
December3