Mt Ida (12,880′), Front Range

by Mike Langenkamp | Jul 17, 2022 | Difficult Hikes, Featured, Front Range, Rocky Mountain National Park, Rocky Mountains, Trip Reports

Mt Ida (12,880′), Front Range

The Mt Ida trail, at Milner Pass, is one of Rocky Mountain Park’s most scenic alpine treks. The trail has spectacular views that include tundra flats, panoramic views across the Never Summer Mountain Range, and 360 degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park from the summit.

Officially there is no trail to the summit, but well-established hiking paths make the trek straightforward. Be aware that many cairns and social trails begin to spindle off the main route near the summit, which can be confusing. However, since you’re above treeline, it shouldn’t be hard to piece together the final part of the route.

Trail Stats

Mt Ida

Trailhead: Milner Pass
Round trip: 10.2 miles / 16.4 km
Elevation: 10,780′- 12,880′ / 3,286 m – 3,926 m
County: Larimer / Grand
Agency: National Park Service
Nat’l Park: Rocky Mountain

Trail Pictures

The Mt Ida trail follows the Continental Divide the entire way

The trail begins at Poudre Lake

View of Specimen mountain

View of the trail with Mt Ida on the right

Wildflowers in full bloom on the Mt Ida trail

The trail is one of the finest trails in Colorado

Azure and Inkwell Lake

Marmot sunbathing

12,880′ summit

Julian Lake near with Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake in the distance

Chipmunk looking over his kingdom

The summit in the distance

Azure and Inkwell Lake from the summit

Marmot’s playing along the ridge

Summit view with Longs Peak in the background

View of the east side of the mountain

Most of the trail is situated above treeline

The Never Summer Mountains in the distance

The trail follows the Continental Divide (Mt Ida on right)

The trail stretch’s off into the distance along the tundra

The Never Summer Mountains to the northwest

View to the east with unnamed lakes below

Rock formation on the trail below treeline

The trail begins/ends in a lush forest

Mt Ida viewed from Trail Ridge Rd. Snowiest peak to the left

GPX with Elevation

Video Tour

Trail Directions

Start from Poudre Lake Trailhead at Milner Pass (Continental Divide) and head northeast toward Poudre Lake. Hike past the southern shore of Poudre Lake and follow steep switchbacks through the forest. Keep to the right and follow the sign at the first junction. Ascend up a deep forest, heading to the western side of the ridge as you make your way to tree line.

Once above tree line, the views of The Never Summer mountains to the northwest are incredible. Continue over intermittently steep slopes and flat trail. Eventually boulder fields will begin to appear, so it may be tricky to find a steady trail to the top. Stay to the right on the way up to avoid the more difficult sections and the cliffs. The summit provides beautiful 360 degree views of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Trailhead Directions

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Lake Isabelle (10,910′), Front Range

by Mike Langenkamp | Nov 7, 2021 | Featured, Front Range, Moderate Hikes, Rocky Mountains, Snowshoeing, Trip Reports

Lake Isabelle (10,910′), Front Range

Lake Isabelle lies hidden in a high, isolated bowl-shaped basin at the top of the South St. Vrain drainage in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It lies at tree-line in a stunning alpine valley surrounded by Navajo (13,409′), Apache (13,441′) and Shoshoni (12,967′) peaks. The Continental Divide is located just west of the lake, running along the high peaks above the valley.

Mitchell & Blue Lake and Mt Audubon, are also located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area and also offer beautiful views of the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Trail Stats

Lake Isabelle

Trailhead: Long Lake
Round trip: 4.4 miles/7.1 km summer, 11 miles/17.1 km winter
Elevation: 10,300′ – 10,910′ / 3,139 m – 3,325 m
County: Boulder – Brainard Lake Rec. Area
National Forest: Roosevelt
Wilderness: Indian Peaks

Trail Pictures

Park closed in winter to motorized vehicles

Brainard Lake Rec. Area

Road to the Long Lake trailhead

Out of control bike ride along the closed road

Long Lake Trailhead

View through the dense forest

Long Lake, Brainard Lake Rec Area

Trail in great winter condition

Long Lake, with sounds of moose nearby

One of the many creek crossings

Shoshoni Peak ahead

Meadow on the way to Lake Isabelle

As you near Lake Isabelle the trees thin out

The upper portion of the South St. Vrain Creek valley

Above Lake Isabelle

The incredible scenery of Lake Isabelle

Panorama of Lake Isabelle

Niwot Ridge, 13,409-foot Navajo Peak, Navajo Glacier, 13,441-foot Apache Peak and 12,967-foot Shoshoni Peak, looking from left to right

The Continental Divide lies along the jagged peaks

View along the northern shore

View from the waters edge

One last look at Lake Isabelle

Winter in full display in early November

Heading back to the Long Lake trailhead

GPS Route with Elevation

Video Tour

Trail Directions

From the Long Lake Trailhead, the trail begins its relatively gentle ascent up to Long Lake. After a quarter-mile of trekking, the trail intersects the Jean Lunning Trail, which will take you to and around Long Lake. This area is known for moose sightings. Avoid the Jean Lunning Trail and continue to the right uphill to Lake Isabelle.

After approximately 1 more mile, the trail intersects the Jean Lunning Trail for the second time. Again, continue towards Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass, bypassing the Jean Lunning Trail. Lake Isabelle is just another .9 miles beyond this trail junction. From the lake you have the option of continuing further up the trail to reach Isabelle Glacier.

Trailhead Directions

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La Plata Peak (14,344′), Sawatch Range

by Mike Langenkamp | Jun 23, 2018 | 14er's, Difficult Hikes, Featured, Rocky Mountains, Sawatch Range, Trip Reports

La Plata Peak (14,344′), Sawatch Range

La Plata Peak is known for it’s distinctive Ellingwood Ridge, and is one of the highest 14,000′ peaks in Colorado. Traverseing the Southwest Ridge route, with Huron Peak and the Three Apostles providing a backdrop, makes for stunning scenery.

“La Plata” is Spanish for “The Silver”, a reference to the many silver deposits in the area. You can find remnants of old mines along the trail.

The Sawatch Mountain Range is home to fourteen other 14,000′ peaks, such as Huron Peak, Mt Antero, Missouri Mountain, and the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains, Mt Elbert.

Trail Stats

La Plata Peak

Trailhead: West Winfield (Southwest Ridge)
Round trip: 8 miles / 12.9 km
Elevation: 10,778′ – 14,344′ / 3,285 m – 4,372 m
County: Chaffee
Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Nat’l Forest: San Isabel

Trail Pictures

Approximately 1,000 feet of talus and boulders to gain the southwest ridge

Pika near the summit

View of Sayres Peak (13,738′)

Gaining the southwest ridge requires climbing up a large boulder and talus field with a steep elevation gain

Near the top of the first ridge overlooking the valley leading to the trailhead

Steep slope leading to the first ridge

La Plata Peak southwest ridge with abandoned mining track. View of Huron Peak and the Three Apostles in the background.

Heading out of the valley

Sunrise in the valley

Morning sunlight on the trek ahead

The trail skirts around some of the boggy areas

The trail winding through the bog

Just above treeline

Heading into an unnamed valley

Trail through the forest

View from the valley floor

View of Huron Peak (center) and the Three Apostles (right)

Gaining the ridge out of the valley

Large boulder and talus field ahead

The view across the ridge

The southwest ridge on La Plata Peak

La Plata Peak summit view

The West Winfield trailhead is easy to miss

Heading back down the trail

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Looking back at the route up near the summit of La Plata Peak

Ellingwood Ridge (center to right) from the summit of La Plata Peak

Looking back as I climb out of La Plata Peak’s southwest valley

Looking back down the steep ridge

View of the ridge, right of center, with a faint trail. Sayres Peak (13,738′) rises to the right.

View after climbing onto La Plata Peaks southwest ridge. The valley left of center leads back to the trailhead.

GPS Route with Elevation

Video Tour

Trail Directions

Note: The West Winfield trailhead is small and very hard to reach, even during dry conditions due to the rough 4X4 road.

Once at the trailhead head directly north and cross a small creek and turn west for a bit. Following the steep trail you reach treeline at about 12,000′. Here the elevation levels out and you navigate through a large bog overgrown with willows. Expect to get your boots muddy here. Past the bog, you can see the steep trail which climbs to the ridge. Be careful here because of the loose rock and lack of traction, especially on the way down. Once on the ridge, the trail turns northeast and traverses the cliffs you viewed all morning. The trail steepens considerably again and gains 1,000′ in a very short distance, boulder hopping all the way to the top of the ridge. Once on the ridge, continue climbing over two false summits. The trail joins the Northwest Slopes standard route (#1474) for the last 20 feet to the summit of La Plata Peak.

Trailhead Directions

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American Basin to Sloan Lake (12,920′), San Juan Range

by Mike Langenkamp | Jul 3, 2015 | Dog Friendly, Featured, Moderate Hikes, Rocky Mountains, San Juan Range, Trip Reports

American Basin to Sloan Lake (12,920′), San Juan Range

The Handies Peak trail to Sloan Lake meanders through American Basin, one of the most scenic basins in the San Juan Mountains. The destination, Sloan Lake, is a high alpine lake above treeline near the base of American Peak in the basin. The trail continues past the lake and up to Handies Peak, one of five l4,000′ peaks in the area.

Other destinations worth visiting while in the area along the Alpine Loop include Wager Gulch, California Pass, Hurricane Pass, Stony Pass, and Mt Sneffels in Yankee Boy basin.

Trail Stats

Sloan Lake

Trailhead: Handies Peak Trail
Round trip: 4.6 miles / 7.4 km
Elevation: 11,600′ – 12,920′ Sloan Lake / 3,536m – 3,938 m
County: San Juan
Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Nat’l Forest: Gunnison

Trail Pictures

Mine ruins on the way to Animas Forks

Arriving at American Basin before sunrise

Lots of waterfalls

Heading down to Animas Forks

Such a scenic 4X4 trail

Near Cinnamon Pass

Cinnamon Pass 12,640′

Road to Cinnamon Pass

Views from the trail

Views of the San Juan Mountains

View back into the valley

Wildflowers along the trail

Snow bridge over a creek

Handies Peak on the left

View of American Peak from Sloan Lake

Lingering snow during the summer

The trail is dog friendly

View of American Peak at sunrise

American Basin in full view

An easy to follow trail

Summer flowers starting to bloom

Sunrise on the San Juan Mountains

Early morning on the Handies Peak trail

Sunrise striking American Mountain

GPS Route with Elevation

Video Tour

Trail Directions

The Handies Peak trail leaves the southeast end of the trailhead parking area and ascends the hillside on the left (east) side of the valley, heading south into the basin. At 3/4 miles the path crosses a stream and then continues the moderate ascent toward the head of the basin.

The path to the Lake turns left (southeast), leaving the valley floor and climbs 325-ft up a moderately steep hillside. At the top of hill the path descends into a shallow basin, crosses the outlet stream for Sloan Lake and then follows a gently ascending grade across rocky meadows. Eventually the path turns south, climbing steep switchbacks 200-ft up to a junction with the trail to Sloan Lake. At the junction a short spur trail drops south to the shore (12,930-ft.) while the trail to Handies Peak veers left. The trip to the lake is well worth your time. The aquamarine lake lies cradled in a rugged cirque, anchored to the southeast by American Peak (13,806-ft.). An imposing jagged ridge rises above the lake’s south shoreline.

Trailhead Directions

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Missouri Mountain (14,071′), Sawatch Range

by Mike Langenkamp | Aug 9, 2014 | 14er's, Difficult Hikes, Featured, Rocky Mountains, Sawatch Range, Trip Reports

Missouri Mountain (14,071′), Sawatch Range

At 14,067 feet, Missouri Mountain is the 36th highest peak in Colorado. It is located in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, and is part of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. With eight “14ers” (peaks exceeding 14,000′ in elevation), the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness has the highest average elevation of any Wilderness Area outside of Alaska.

The other Collegiate 14ers include Huron Peak (14,006′), Mt. Columbia (14,075′), Mt. Oxford (14,158′), Mt Yale (14,200′), Mt Belford (14,202′), La Plata Peak (14,344′), and Mt Harvard (14,424′).

Trail Stats

Missouri Mountain

Trailhead: Missouri Gulch
Round trip: 10.5 miles / 16.9 km
Elevation: 9,650′- 14,071′ / 2,941 m – 4,289 m
County: Chaffee
Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Nat’l Forest: San Isabel
Nat’l Wilderness: Collegiate Peaks

Trail Pictures

Trail junction in Missouri Gulch

Rainy Mt Belford

Rain over Missouri Mountain

View west from the trail

Mountain goat on the ridge

Looking back down the trail

Huron Peak in the center

Missouri Mountain summit view

From left – Mt Columbia (14,073′) over the ridge, Mt Yale (14,196′) middle front, Mt Princeton (14,197′) further back just left of Mt Yale, Mt Antero in the distance, Mt Shavano and Tabeguache Peak towards the right

From left – Mt Columbia (14,073′) over the ridge, Mt Yale (14,196′) middle front, Mt Princeton (14,197′) further back just left of Mt Yale, Mt Antero in the distance, Mt Shavano and Tabeguache Peak towards the right

Mountain goat

View of Huron Peak from the ridge

Missouri Mountain near the ridge

Mt Belford

Missouri Mountain

After a hard climb into the gulch, easier hiking for a while

Sunrise on Missouri Mountain

The crux of the route near the summit

Wrong turn at the creek lead to a boulderfield…ooops

Early morning on the Missouri Gulch trail

Missouri Gulch

GPS Route with Elevation

Video Tour

Trail Directions

The first 3.5 miles is strenuous, with an elevation gain of 3,740 feet. The next 3.3 miles has an elevation loss of 1,670 feet. Follow the Missouri Gulch Trail into upper Missouri Gulch (approx. 2.5 miles). As the trail ascends to 12,600 feet, it turns abruptly east to climb up to Elkhead Pass.

A cairn marks the turn off here for the ascent of Missouri Mountain. Turn west and climb the grassy slopes and a loose talus slope toward the low point on Missouri’s northwest ridge. From the ridge, hike southeast to Missouri’s summit.

Trailhead Directions

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