Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead. Can see a little bit of the front of the fall, but the back is fantastic! ", "Hiked to Pitkin Lake yesterday. Early season hikers may encounter snow patches as the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Join a supporting community of travelers and adventurers sharing their photos and local insights. Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail and cross under I-70 to the north side of the high-way. The incline is pretty gradual. Turn right and proceed east on the North Frontage Road for 0.5 miles to Buffehr Creek Road. East and West Partner, at 3,977 m, reside above the lake. Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead; do not park in undesignated areas. From the lake, we spied several promising lines over to the Booth Lake drainage, but decided to plumb the middle branch of the Pitkin drainage instead. Walk east 1/3 of a mile up Bighorn Road (under the overpass) to the trailhead. The streams are easy to cross, use the stones as stepping stones to cross & youll be A-ok. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Blue Lake. Amazing! There is limited parking at this trailhead. Blodgett Lake. Pitkin Lake(11,362') is located 4.45 miles north of Vail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. After about 2.5 miles, steep switchbacks reveal the first of two waterfalls on Pitkin Creek about 200 yards to the east. If you dont live here, we tip our hats to you, as the steep pitch through pines and aspens up Vail Mountain isnt for the faint of heart or the weak of lungs; after all, this is the same route elite athletes in the La Sportiva Berry Picker Trail Run follow when they scramble uphill for the ultimate title of King of the Mountain.Distance: 3.2 milesDifficulty: DifficultElevation gain: 2,200 feetGet there: From the Lionshead ski yard at the base of the Eagle Bahn, cross over the bridge and follow the trail up the east side of the Bwana ski run under the Born Free lift. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see the trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. Walk up Fall Line Drive a mile to the trailhead. The mountain has an elevation of 14,028 feet and is the highest point in Summit County. 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). Fossil Ridge is behind the lake and rises to 12,749 elevation. We are calling this the "lower campsite." From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn left (west) on the north frontage road. connected to the .gov website. 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. . This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness regulations are posted at the trailhead. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. Mill Lake is at 11,470 elevation. 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'). At the signed junction with West Grouse Creek trail at 1 mile, keep left. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. Linda Hayes Need more inspiration? Stay right here. Alpine trails are so cool, crisp and surrounded by those tall majestic mountains making it super splendor! Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine Where the trail switchbacks, please stay on the trail and do not cut the switchbacks. Beyond the falls the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. Saw one hiker moments after getting to lake, saw one more moments after we started down trail. Trail Highlights:The trail climbs steeply from the trailhead through aspen groves for the first mile. 10,030' elevation. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 8 min to complete. Turning right will take you to the remainder of the North Trail. The trail will pass through several boulder fields, and then cling to a very steep slope as it climbs through aspen woods. 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. I recommend wearing long sleeves, although the bugs bit me through my clothes. Big Spruce Lake 10. It is a long hike to the lake. Contact the Holy Cross Ranger District for information on these sites. The trailhead is on the left at the first turn in the road. Its like youre hiking through the forest most the way, in the trees, but still lots of sun. The Gore Valley Trail runs the length of the Gore Creek/Vail Valley. Eagle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. Quickly, youll cross a large bridge as Pitkin creeks rushes below. Bear Gulch Reservoir 4. Booth Lake is a lake located just 5.4 miles from Vail, in Eagle County, in the state of Colorado, United States, near Bighorn, CO. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including cutthroat trout and others here. 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. Walk up Buffehr Creek Road a 1/4 mile and you will see the Buffehr Creek Trailhead. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. 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. There are some short steep sections along the way. for 2.5 miles, turn right into the small parking lot next to the Nordic ski track. Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. But wilderness is managed differently. Two night max stay. The Everkrisp trail opened in 2019 and splits from the Meadow Mountain trail after 0.4 mile. 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 mile 3.0, the trail enters a large meadow where the Piney River and Meadow Creek merge. Truly one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done! Join the fun on weekends, when the lively crowds are always . It wasn't slippery at all. 8 / . The best times to visit this trail are June through October. Pitkin Lake is one of the best hikes near vail, not only because it provides views of the Gore Range, but also takes you to two waterfalls . Trail Adopted By:Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance, WEBSITE DESIGN BY GRANICUS - Connecting People and Government, North Trail (Trapper's Run) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Cortina Lane to Buffehr Creek) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), North Trail (Red Sandstone to Son of Middle Creek) (CLOSED April 15 June 20), Son of Middle Creek (CLOSED April 15 June 20), Buffehr Creek Trail (CLOSED April 15 June 20). After passing a beaver pond on the right, cross Buffehr Creek. Benchmark Lake Reservoir 7. They are such cute chubby animals. The trail climbs very steeply for the first 3 miles, gaining about 2,500 feet. Top ways to experience Booth Falls Trail and nearby attractions. Had the trail and lake to myself early on a Saturday! From these points you'll also have great views back down valley that reveal hidden meadows, ponds and streams. Not many people on a Monday. Great trail that was not too busy with beautiful views. Pitkin Lake Trailhead Post a Trailhead Status Update; Map; Cell Phone Reception; Manage Email Alerts; Location. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. By Directions: From Vail, continue east on I-70 to exit 180. Borah Lake 18. Take your time & enjoy it & takes tons of pics! Stay right here. The Two Elk National Recreation Trail climbs out of Minturn and follows the creek and enters Vails Back Bowls. Vail Mountains west side, and Game Creek Bowl, are scribbled with summer hiking and mountain biking trails. Please explore responsibly! One vertebrae slipped over another. Have you done this adventure? Aspens are starting to pop but many are still green-so colors should be at peak in another week or 2. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta. After ascending through the fallen trees of an avalanche chute, youll quickly leave the valley floor behind. Mapcarta, the open map. At about 3.75 miles in the trail crosses the west fork of Pitkin Creek and there is a large campsite past that crossing. From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn right (east) on the north frontage road. There is a porta potty. Distance: 1.8 miles each way (to the falls) Elevation gain: 1,800 feet Difficulty: Moderate Get 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. United States government. Print Trail At about 2.5 miles - halfway to the top - you'll get a good view of Pitkin Falls. Insider Hints for Pitkin Lake Trail The water puddles, just walk on the grass to the right or left. Along the way, there are good views of Vail Mountain. From here the trail enters an aspen stand, and openings along the way provide scenic views to the south and east. The Booth Creek Falls trail is particularly stunning in autumn when the aspens are glowing and golden. Range: Gore Range Coordinates: 39.642967, -106.303029 Elevation: 8,450' Road Difficulty . ", "Very nice, easy to follow trail. The first 4 miles of the trail climbs alongside Gore Creek. Access:Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Overnight camping in the wilderness requires a permit. The Gore Creek Campground is located 2.5 miles east of Exit 180 from I-70 on Bighorn Road. As the grade steepens on the final approach, you cross into the Holy Cross Wilderness, where youll soon find Beaver Lake, ringed with conifers and sparkling under that blue, blue Colorado sky.Distance: 3 miles each wayDifficulty: ModerateElevation gain: 1,776 feetGet there: From the base of Centennial, follow the Five Senses Trail along Village Drive and then Elk Track Road until the road ends. 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