A year later, when the pandemic idled Vail Villages festival season and a statewide lockdown sent locals and Front Rangers into a get-outdoors frenzy, 50,560 hikers (a 63 percent increase) stomped up the Booth Lake Trail, leaving illegally parked SUVs clogging both shoulders of Booth Falls Road, as well as piles of trash and biological waste from humans and off-leash dogs. It climbs through meadows that were once home to a very prosperous lettuce farm. The lake is really beautiful. Pitkin Lake Trailhead Post a Trailhead Status Update; Map; Cell Phone Reception; Manage Email Alerts; Location. Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left. Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers. Length:3.6 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. The parking lot for Son of Middle Creek trail is 100 yards ahead on the left. Call 860-327-5498 for . The Pitkin Lake basin is immense and, to see it all, you'll have to climb a bit up its southeast or southwest shore. 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. Beaver Dam Lake. While the first part of the hike is steep, the incline is gradual for most of the way, and it's a very enjoyable hike to do between June and October. Walk east 1/3 of a mile up Bighorn Road (under the overpass) to the trailhead. The Two Elk National Recreation Trail climbs out of Minturn and follows the creek and enters Vails Back Bowls. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6'. The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. One thing I learned here is that the weather channel says one thing, but the actual weather is completely opposite . I had to turn at the 2nd brook. Sign in on the sheet that is inside the box, if you desire. The only other option is to park in town and take a shuttle which is free but much less convenient in this situation because it stops at multiple places en route to the trailhead. Saw one hiker moments after getting to lake, saw one more moments after we started down trail. 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). Length:10 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. 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. From the trailhead, it is a gradual climb for about 3 miles to a cascading waterfall which makes a good destination for the average hiker. . 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. After a series of small switchbacks, at 4.0 km, look out towards the east to see the first of two waterfalls along Pitkin Creek. Blodgett Lake. Views span from the Gore Range to Tennessee Pass. Directions: From Vail, continue east on I-70 to exit 180. A vault toilet is available. Access:The Gore Valley trail is accessible from various points throughout the Town of Vail. Booth Lake 17. Ted Katauskas 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. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. 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. Please respect private property rights. Well worth the effort to reach the lake, which is deep and crystal clear. From Denver, take I-70 west to Vail and exit 180, your first exit on the right. Trail Adopted By:Michael Dunahay & Associates, Length:4.3 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. From the trailhead, walk 1/8 mile to the signed North Trail/Davos Trail junction and take a right onto the North Trail. This is a beautiful 60 ft waterfall that allows for easy rock climbing and hiking through the stream upstream of the falls. Great early fall day! Access:From Exit 176 for Vail, travel west about 1 mile on the North Frontage Road to Red Sandstone Road. Length:4.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. Beaver Lake 6. 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. Do not park in undesignated areas; there are only four designated parking spaces. Pitkin Lake Trail makes for an adventure-filled day hike. At the traffic circle take the third exit and continue on South Frontage Rd. 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. We didnt hike the entire whole thing but super awesome! Or to see quicksheets for other recreation areas across the Forest, click on the "Recreation Quicksheets" link in the right column and select the appropriate Ranger District. 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 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. Quickly, youll cross a large bridge as Pitkin creeks rushes below. What spectacular views throughout the trail! Begin the descent to Red Sandstone via a series of switchbacks where the stand of aspen begins to thin. 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. Mount Powell is a mountain in Summit County. Walk up Buffehr Creek Road a 1/4 mile and you will see the Buffehr Creek Trailhead. Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead. It seemed a lot longer than 4.5 each way- but was worth it. Eagle is an extremely outdoorsy town that has abundant recreational options for everyone. See theVail Mountain Hiking Websitefor more information. This day hike begins as a steady climb through aspen trees for the first mile. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness regulations are posted at the trailhead. Anticipating more of the same this summer, Bazan would like to relay an urgent plea to the public: give nature a break. It takes the whole communitylocals and visitorsto take responsibility into their own hands and protect our trails, and the wilderness experience, for everyone.. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Incline is hard at points, I like that :) Lake was beautiful. Not many people on a Monday. This trail is so pretty. per group (up to 8) Smartphone Driving Tour between Boulder and Vail / Breckenridge. Took about eight hours. Your day will be filled with mountain views, abundant wildflowers, mature aspen and evergreen forests. Lunch will be served. Only made it half way. 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. But perhaps the best value comes from Pitkin Creek, which climbs via singletrack to Pitkin Lake at 11,400 feet. If youve huffed all the way up the arduous singletrack to Eagles Nest and you just moved here, congratulations: you can finally call yourself a local. Other gardens include the Children's Garden and Schoolhouse Garden. 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. Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. Very scenic on the way to the fall. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. . Mill Lake is at 11,470 elevation. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. Dispersed backcountry camping is permitted in the. Jane Gendron, Cindy Hirschfeld, and Ted Katauskas, 12/15/2021 Quick Info: Pitkin Lake Trail. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. After a number of false summits, the trail reaches Pitkin Lake, nestled beneath an arc of gray granite in the alpine tundra. The trail climbs gradually through pine and aspen. Walk up Booth Falls Road a 1/4 mile to the trailhead. It joins the creek for a moment (1.5 miles : 9,516') before climbing steeply to a crest overlooking a wide berth in the valley, a good place to scan for wildlife (1.85 miles : 9,765'). Beyond the falls the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Length:3.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. He wasnt super aggressive, just seemed curious but he definitely got way too close for comfort at times. There is NO SIGN on the main trail to help you find the trail that leads to the right off the main Lamphier Lake trail. Youll follow Pitkin Creek for a couple hundred meters through dense foliage. Easy parking. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Enjoy apres ski or summer evenings on the private deck which features a fire pit and private 10-person hot tub. Proceed west on the North Frontage Road for 1/4 mile. This trail enters the Holy Cross Wilderness regulations are posted at the trailhead. Trail, USFS - White River - Eagle-Holy Cross Ranger District, improvements The trail ends at a recently-refurbished homestead cabin located on private property. Amazing! 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). From Buffehr Creek, climb steeply for approximately one mile on an open hillside. Linda Hayes Be the first to leave a review! . Grades 9-12 public. Benchmark Lake Reservoir 7. For outdoor enthusiasts, Vail has some of the most scenic hiking trails in the Vail Valley. Break out of treeline just as you reach Pitkin Lake at 11,360'. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Definitely a challenging hike and the last bit to the lake is a solid incline as well. At the signed junction with West Grouse Creek trail at 1 mile, keep left. Park in town and take the free bus to the trailhead. The steep, high-elevation hike takes adventurers about 11,500 feet above sea level to Booth Lake, a body of water high in the mountains. Pitkin Lake. Need more inspiration? Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. The entire trail is 12 miles long and spans from East Valley Trail on the western end and the Val Pass Trail on the eastern end. Hike uphill through aspens and thimbleberry to an intersection with the Village to Village trail. Access:Travel west on I-70 to Exit 173 for West Vail. Parking is very limited at this trailhead. Travel 1 mile to Booth Falls Road and turn right (north). The mountain has an elevation of 14,028 feet and is the highest point in Summit County. 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. The trail then flattens out a bit, and you reach Booth Falls at mile two. Youll get a ticket. This is a charming place to walk around, shop, look at the stunning architecture, or enjoy a delicious meal. Access:No parking at the Booth Lake Trailhead for the 2022 season. ", "Very nice, easy to follow trail. We didnt see much wildlife, but that could have been because of the snowfall. And all require you to work hard to get there. Walk up Chamonix Lane to Arosa Drive to Cortina Lane for 1 mile and you will see the Davos Trailhead. We got some sun, but mostly cloudy with rain & hail! Overnight camping in the wilderness requires a permit. By The trail continues to climb gently and then curves around into a drainage of mixed pine and aspen. Beautiful memory made today hiking this gorgeous trail featuring wide open views of the surrounding rocky mountains! Pitkin Lake sits around 8.0 km in, dramatically surrounded by tall, gray granite walls and alpine tundra. Top ways to experience Booth Falls Trail and nearby attractions. Access:Travel west on I-70 to Exit 173 for West Vail. But maybe it was meant to be. Blue Lake 13. Its like youre hiking through the forest most the way, in the trees, but still lots of sun. This is a great destination for families. Turn right and proceed east on the North Frontage Road for 0.5 miles to Buffehr Creek Road. The trail head for Lake Pitkin is located just off of I-70 on Fall Line Rd in Vail. I saw two moose and a small herd of white mountain goats! Dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Bear Gulch Reservoir 4. Catch and release is recommended in the high lakes. Turn left at the yield sign onto Chamonix Lane. 10. The Gore Range comes into view, sitting picturesquely at the back of the valley. Contact the Holy Cross Ranger District for information on these sites. 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. Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead; do not park in undesignated areas. At mile 1, the Wash Holland trail veers right. . After enjoying your well-earned time at the lake, follow the same trail back, through Pitkin Creek drainage, to finish your hike! Trail Adopted By:Eagle River Water & Sand District, Length:3.4 miles (one way)Difficulty:More Difficult. Fishing is permitted along Pitkin Creek and at Pitkin Lake with a valid Colorado fishing license. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. Robert Kagan - George A. Kasem - John Kasich - John Katko - Thomas Kean - Thomas Kean mlaji - Joseph Warren Keifer - Kenneth McKellar - Fred Keller - Frank B. Kellogg - James A. Kelly - Laura Kelly - John F. Kennedy - John L. Kennedy - Kerry Kennedy - P. J. Kennedy - Robert F. Kennedy - Ted Kennedy - John W. Kern - John F. Kerry - Harley M . Join the fun on weekends, when the lively crowds are always . Fallen trees along the trail are evidence of past avalanches. I was pretty miserable the whole time and didn't make it it the falls . Line Rd in Vail stand of aspen begins to thin challenging hike and the bit. Gore Range to Tennessee Pass anticipating more of the Falls the trail at 1 mile to Booth at. From various points throughout the town of Vail mile up Bighorn Road ( # 786 ) continue. One mile on an open hillside one thing I learned here is that the weather says... All times & hail Rd in Vail more moments after we started trail. Of Minturn and follows the Creek and enters Vails back Bowls throughout the town Vail... The high lakes deck which features a fire pit and private 10-person tub! 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