Columbine Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO

Approx Trail Length: ~6 miles round trip

Elevation Change: +1000'

Solitude Rating: 3/10

Difficulty: Easy

Location: 2 hours from Boulder

Permit Required: Yes (June 1 – September 15)

September 17-18, 2016:

The Junco Lake Trailhead had a startling number of cars - far more than the road would indicate. We arrived in the afternoon and approximately 12 cars greeted us after winding down 10 miles of dirt road. Quickly, we signed the register and were off.

Many other groups were heading down as we made our ascent. The "trail" begins on an old dirt road and gently climbs for the first mile or so. It is easy walking despite the 10000'+ elevation. It was a lazy fall afternoon and everything seemed to reflect it: golden grasses filled meadows, creek crossings were dry, and the clouds failed to accumulate into a storm.

After 1.7 miles, the trail splits with Columbine to the right and Caribou Pass to the left. After this junction, the trail travels net uphill over many rollers and boarders a long meadow valley. At the end of this valley, the trail turns to the right and crosses the meadow which was still a little marshy - even this late in the season. A nice rock bridge allows for dry passage.

It's up, up, up from the meadow to the lake, but only about 0.6mi. Columbine Lake sits in a nice valley at about 11080' on the cusp of treeline. There are a few established campsites on both the near and far side of the lake. We saw cutthroat and rainbow trout and the water wasn't as cold as expected. We only had one neighbor for the night and the morning to ourselves from 10-12am.

40.044594, -105.732207 - Junco Lake Trailhead

40.030079, -105.709505 - Trail split with Caribou Pass

40.023021, -105.702939 - Meadow crossing

40.016779, -105.698548 - Columbine Lake

Woodland Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO

Approx Trail Length: ~9.1 miles round trip

Elevation Change: +1963'

Solitude Rating: 2/10

Difficulty: Moderate

Location: Under 1 hour from Boulder

Permit Required: Yes (June-September)

August 20-21, 2016:

We arrived at the trailhead around 8am – a little later than intended, but early enough to get a parking spot (just). Dogs and day hikers make the area busy, so we gathered our packs and set off down the obvious route to the west.

The first slog up the canyon is always slow, the wide trail makes the sun bake down on your back. Also the most crowded section of trail (up to the Lost Lake junction), we completed it in about 45 minutes. We didn’t see anyone from that junction until the Woodland Lake trail split about 1.2 miles later. It is a peaceful mile. A gentle slope carries you out away from the crowds along the meandering Jasper Creek.

Once the Woodland Lake trail heads up, it heads up. It follows a similar winding path next to the creek and gains 1000’ in elevation over the next two miles. We saw three groups along this section, but there were abundant wildflowers, woodpeckers, and meadows in which to lose yourself.

Inlet creek that ran behind our campsite

The trail kicks out into an opening with beautiful grasses and flowers lining the terraced falls of the creek. Woodland lake becomes apparent over the next crest. The trail runs alongside the lake to the far (west) side. Camping is available immediately to the right where you come in and on the far side of the lake. Many pre-existing spots exist, but the contours of the rocks and trees create pockets of isolation, removing neighbors from view.

We camped here with probably 4 other groups and hiked up to Skyscraper Lake (only another half mile along the same trail). We enjoyed the sunrise Sunday morning as it slowly peaked up over the rim of the lake.

Return via the same route. Overall it took us about 2:30 to hike it each way.

N39 57.095 W105 35.698 - Main Parking Area for Hessie Trailhead

N39 57.266 W105 36.910 ~1.1 miles - Lost Lake Trail junction

N39 57.285 W105 37.010 ~1.2 miles - King Lake Trail junction

N39 57.777 W105 37.960 ~2.35 miles - Devils Thumb/Woodland Lake split

N39 57.282 W105 39.746 ~4.5 miles - Trail reaches Woodland Lake

N39 57.273 W105 39.995 ~4.6 miles - Woodland Lake Camping area