Youre in the trees majority of the time but you get breaks out of them with great views. After winding through another drainage, the North Trail begins its descent into Buffehr Creek via a series of switchbacks. Aspens still holding leaves for the most part. There are spots for about 8 cars at the trailhead. 12/03/2021 Booth Creek Falls, whose intertwined torrents plunge 60 feet, has earned its rep as Vails most dramaticand popularcascade. After a strenuous set of switchbacks, youll reap your first watery reward 2.5 miles from the trailhead (a cascade 200 yards to the east), followed by another waterfall a mile beyond and finally, after another 1.3 miles, Pitkin Lake.Distance: 4.8 miles each wayElevation gain: 2,921 feetDifficulty: DifficultGet there: From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, take the East Vail Blue Line to the Falls at Vail bus stop; follow Fall Line Drive uphill a quarter mile to the trailhead. . ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Very rewarding once you get to the meadows. We didnt see much wildlife, but that could have been because of the snowfall. Wildlife, Create Recommended Route or 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. Length:VariesDifficulty:Varies Crowds:Varies. Not highly traveled. This day hike begins as a steady climb through aspen trees for the first mile. It's possible to continue past Pitkin Lake, crest a ridge and drop into the Booth Lake drainage, with a trail that returns almost to your starting point. 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. Print Trail Mount Powell is part of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and is one of the most popular climbing destinations in Colorado. The trail enters into Vail Golf Course area and continues up Vail Pass to the east and continues to the west, connecting to the Eagle Valley Regional Trail, a 10-mile trail to Edwards. Town of Vail Hiking Information for Lost Lake Trail Length : 3.73 miles (one way) Difficulty : Easy From the trailhead, the trail follows a ridge dividing the Piney and Red Sandstone drainages while traveling though lodgepole pine and aspen groves. The Pitkin Lake Trailhead is located .3 miles east of Exit #180 from I-70 on the North Frontage Road. A welcome sight after a pretty challenging at times hike. 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. more info: No conditions reported in the past 7 days. Access:No parking at the Booth Lake Trailhead for the 2022 season. Pitkin Creek Trail Town of Vail Hiking Information for Pitkin Creek Trail Length : 4.8 miles (one way) Difficulty : More Difficult The first mile of the trail is strenuous as it climbs steeply out of the Vail Valley. Parking availability at the trailhead is limited. Gorgeous, long and hard, but well worth it. 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. East and West Partner, at 3,977 m, reside above the lake. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. Pass through many meadows, often filled with wildflowers for 2 more miles to Booth Lake. Mill Lake is at 11,470 elevation. Dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. Fallen trees along the trail are evidence of past avalanches. Well worth going out there. Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine. ", "Very nice, easy to follow trail. 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. Pitkin lake is situated at the bottom of huge mountains and is stunning. Travel 1 mile to Booth Falls Road and turn right (north). Follow this rough, dirt road about 1.8 miles until it ends at the trailhead. Amazing beautiful views all the way up and back! Follow the well-distinguished trail as it meanders onto the western slopes of the valley. 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 . First mile is little work but it levels out nicely. website belongs to an official government organization in the Insider Hints for Pitkin Lake Trail Insect repellant and sun screen are nice in season. At the traffic circle take the third exit and continue on South Frontage Rd. After a mile, it crosses a bridge over Middle Creek in a cool spruce/fir forest. 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. and 1 other. My wife and I ( both in our 50s) loved the hike. If camping overnight, please visit the Ranger Station to learn about Holy Cross Wilderness regulations. * There is a printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail which is complete with directions, a map, details, and other information about this trail. 18. But wilderness is managed differently. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); You can contact ProTrails directly through our Facebook account. After about 2.5 miles, steep switchbacks reveal the first of two waterfalls on Pitkin Creek about 200 yards to the east. Follow Us. Continue for another 200 m and you will reach the creek, rushing on your right. After enjoying the waterfall, leave the valley of meadows and hike up another steep section of the trail. Access:Parking is very limited at the trailhead; do not park in undesignated areas. Trail Adopted By:Manor Vail Lodge (East) and Slifer Smith & Frampton (West). The trail begins from the south end of the parking lot near the white house. My watch tracked it as 11 miles / 3050 ft, Gorgeous! Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6'. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see the trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. Get a weekly dose of discounts and inspiration for adventure lovers. Turn left at the yield sign onto Chamonix Lane. Walk up Buffehr Creek Road a 1/4 mile and you will see the Buffehr Creek Trailhead. 1. Share sensitive information only Summer and fall hikers should find an open trail. Trail Highlights:The trail climbs steeply from the trailhead through aspen groves for the first mile. Wonderful hike! I will be back same time next year, Highly recommend doing this trail asap because the leaves are insanely beautiful all around Vail and on the trail right now! The gorgeous trail starts off steep, but it quickly (after roughly 1.6 km) levels out. Blue Lake. Parking is very limited at this trailhead. Take the I-70 E from Vail. The variety is great so spend time stopping and looking both going and coming. Breakfast at Pitkin's has been a family tradition for generations. This stunning 4-bedroom home was designed by Lake Flato Architects and features beautiful custom furnishings. The Booth Creek Falls trail is particularly stunning in autumn when the aspens are glowing and golden. Walk up Fall Line Drive a mile to the trailhead. Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. Only 1st 20 min is difficult, but you should have some hiking experience. Bring lots of water!! At the bottom of the descent, turn left and follow the trail to the Buffehr Creek bridge. ", N39 38.586W106 18.184 0.0 miles : Pitkin Lake Trailhead, N39 38.960W106 17.965 .5 miles : Mild travel through grassy hillside and aspen, N39 39.219W106 17.543 1.0 miles : Moderate travel through diversifying forest, N39 39.594W106 17.346 1.5 miles : Join creek, begin steep climb, N39 39.990W106 17.170 2.0 miles : Nadir along wide meadow on valley floor, N39 40.329W106 16.945 2.5 miles : Climb out of meadow with view of Pitkin Fall, N39 40.758W106 16.742 3.0 miles : Pass through meadow at confluence, N39 40.994W106 16.723 3.35 miles : Trail levels in high subalpine forest, N39 41.183W106 16.833 3.55 miles : Mild travel in thinning subalpine forest, N39 41.291W106 17.203 4.0 miles : Break treeline on west side of upper valley, N39 41.441W106 17.232 4.25 miles : Reach center of valley on final approach, N39 41.579W106 17.330 4.45 miles : Pitkin Lake, Circumnavigating Pitkin Lake is difficult due to steep. Bus to Hike:Take the freeSandstone busand get off at the Vail View/Red Sandstone bus stop. Pitkin Lake sits around 8.0 km in, dramatically surrounded by tall, gray granite walls and alpine tundra. Exit here and turn right (south). Whether you're looking for a short day hike or a longer backpacking trip, the Eagles Nest Wilderness has something to offer. Directions: From Vail, continue east on I-70 to exit 180. Took about eight hours. per group (up to 8) Smartphone Driving Tour between Boulder and Vail / Breckenridge. Saw several marmots on the way from the fall to the lake. (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). Box Canyon Lake 20. ", "This was a great hike with some incredible scenery. Youll get a ticket. Access:Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Take this left onto the narrow trail which heads north before curving and heading northeast the rest of the way. By 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. Trip Reports Views from here are excellent as this is one of the two highest points on the entire length of the North Trail. Tell us when your experience with this trail happened. Bear Gulch Reservoir 4. Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. They also leave me with some of the best and most rewarding vi Beginning at an elevation of 9,397 feet, this hike provides an easy 2.8 mile (one way) trip through the gorgeous meadows against the distant aspens and alpines. The lake is almost exactly 2 miles from the parking area. From these points you'll also have great views back down valley that reveal hidden meadows, ponds and streams. (970)945-2521, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=41395&actid=50, printable Recreation Quicksheet for this trail, Williams Peak and Ginright (Fourmile)Timber Sale Project Area Restrictions. Bus to Hike:Take the freeWest Vail Red busand get off at the Chamonix bus stop. So grab your favorite fly fishing rod and reel, and head out to Pitkin Lake. Overnight camping in the wilderness requires a permit. Pitkin Lake is a lake located just 5.9 miles from Vail, in Eagle County, in the state of Colorado, United States, near Bighorn, CO. If you hike this trail, go to the very end. Great exercise hike, definitely got your leg muscles a workout! You can make the crossing rock-to-rock or perhaps you can walk across a large fallen tree that is just upstream. After a number of false summits, the trail reaches Pitkin Lake, nestled beneath an arc of gray granite in the alpine tundra. At 4.5 km, just past the small creek crossing, continue left on the trail towards the western side of the trail. The trail to Booth Lake, just like the Pitkin Lake Trail, is strenuous. The incline is pretty gradual. Early season hikers may encounter snow patches as the trail winds through conifer forests and meadows filled with wildflowers. Leave them as you wish to nd them: Camping - camp at least 100 feet from streams, lakes, and trails Dogs Alicia Lake Reservoir 3. Past the deck there will be a trail that you can follow out onto the edge of the mountain called the W Vail Trail. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness, which has special regulations to protect wilderness resources. The trail continues climbing through mixed forests and provides access to the Holy Cross Wilderness at Grouse Lake. We didn't mind that at all as it was a spectacular experience! Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Contact Information Need more inspiration? At mile 1, the Wash Holland trail veers right. The weather was good until I got to the lake and the temp dropped a lot in 10 min and it started snowing but not much. From westbound I-70, exit #180 and turn left (west) on the north frontage road. The Meadow Mountain trail follows an old logging road above Dowd Junction. The views from the top of this steep trail include Vail Mountain, Mount of the Holy Cross, and beyond. (38.39.347N 106.34.528W) Both the trail head sign and hiking trail are clearly visible in the large open area. Continue north approximately another 1/2 mile, ascending a series of switchbacks, to the North Trail junction and stay right. Locating the Pitkin Lake Trailhead is easy. At the next signed junction, turn right to continue the descent to Buffehr Creek. Current weather for Pitkin Lake area 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. 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