I went to the Colorado Rockies in late September-early October with the expressed intention of being there for the autumnal yellowing of the aspen trees. It’s a gorgeous sight, the leaves take on a golden glow that shimmers in the breeze. Well, mission accomplished. My brother saved East Lake Creek Trail for the last hike of my visit, one that walks for miles in and among both young and mature aspen forest. Most of the younger trees were revealing their peak shining moment, and the larger, older trees displayed that in-between green and yellow hue that is also quite striking. The trail wanders through White River National Forest and onward into Holy Cross Wilderness, but on this day we were merely out to enjoy the forest. Our hike occurred on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 from 8:45am to about 1:15pm. The plan was to take East Lake Creek Trail to East Lake Creek, then return.

Normally, I use this space to give you a trail report. This time I’m going to mix things up a bit and let the pictures tell the story. For example, the drive up West Lake Creek Road from Edwards to the trailhead passes through beautiful horse country. The East Lake Creek Trail itself is in excellent condition. Whoever the trail volunteers are do a remarkable job. Aside from that though, the trail is really unremarkable. It’s just a nice stroll through a spruce/aspen forest. Ah, but the time of year made all the difference on this particular hike for us.

About half an hour after we started we happened upon a grouse on the trail. Amazingly enough, the grouse didn’t take flight, it simply ran up the trail. Comically this continued for several minutes as the grouse would scurry a couple hundred feet up the trail, then turn to see if we were still following. Finally I suppose it realized we weren’t going away, so it did. Eventually the trail begins a downward trek through another magnificent aspen stand into the East Lake Creek Valley.

When you reach the valley level, you enter Holy Cross Wilderness. The terrain is more open in the valley, and the ground cover is more of a scrub. There is a rocky outcropping in the middle of a large meadow that is a great place for pictures, or a break, or whatever your little heart desires.

Not far past the outcropping you will reach East Lake Creek. That is where we had lunch by a pond along the creek. The East Lake Creek Trail continues into the backcountry wilderness for another four miles, but we ended our outward adventure here, and headed back.

By the time we finished lunch, took some panoramic photos and chatted with some other hikers, it was afternoon. With the sun now higher in the sky, the lighting for the photography on the way back was completely different. We weren’t shooting directly into the sun like we were in the morning, and the sky was a brilliant royal blue that is one of the enjoyments of high altitude hiking. Some of the scenes along the way were exactly what I was hoping for when I planned this early fall trip to the Rockies. If you should find yourself in Central Colorado in early October in the future, treat yourself to East Lake Creek Trail.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

One of the things I miss about the Blue Ridge and Smokies is mountain lakes. The Rocky Mountains are adorned with memorable alpine lakes, usually surrounded by majestic peaks and bountiful evergreen forest. All you need is an input and output source, like Fall Creek in the case of Lake Constantine, and a bowl between mountains to collect the water. Fall Creek Trail climbs 1,700 feet through spruce and pine forest to Lake Constantine at 11,370 feet. Fall Creek spills into the alpine lake not far below its headwaters. Include fabulous views of the Gore Range and the Vail ski mountain, and you have a very nice 9-mile round trip. This hike occurred on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 8:00am to about 3:30pm. Our plan was a simple up and back hike from the Fall Creek Trailhead to Lake Constantine.

My brother has lived in Vail, Colorado for the past 35 years. Every couple years I make a visit for some great Rocky Mountain hiking and general sight-seeing. This year I went in late September hoping to catch the bright golden hue of the aspen forests in fall. In the coming days and weeks I will be detailing a myriad of hikes enjoyed by the Internet Brothers on this most recent foray into the high mountain air.

The Fall Creek Trail to Lake Constantine was to be our first hike after my arrival the day before. Although the lake is above 11,000 feet, by Rocky Mountain standards that is still 3,000 feet lower than the highest peaks. The thought was it would be a good starter hike to help me acclimate to the altitude gradually. It is, after all, still 9,000 feet higher than my home in Western North Carolina. I had hiked some of the 6,000 footers in WNC in recent weeks to help with the elevation adjustment, but it’s still not the same as being there. Altitude sickness is no fun.

On the drive up Tigiwon Road from Minturn, some of the aspen were just beginning a slow change from green to yellow. The transformation was underway. Yay! By the end of the week, the mountainsides should be displaying their most resplendent regalia. Tigiwon Road climbs more than 2,000 feet in its 8-mile meander through White River National Forest. The higher we got, the brighter the golden glistening. It’s an awesome sight when the breeze hits the aspen leaves. They literally shimmer as they flutter and dance.

Tigiwon Road doesn’t require an all-wheel drive vehicle, but it is very rough from pot holes and washboarding. If you have a low clearance vehicle, take it really slow and easy. Six miles up you’ll pass a mountain cabin that is quite popular as a wedding location. Just a couple miles beyond you’ll reach the dead end of Tigiwon Road and the parking area at Half Moon Trail and Campground.

There are two trails here. Don’t be fooled by the Half Moon Trailhead, unless you want to go over Half Moon Pass toward the base of Mount of the Holy Cross. The Fall Creek Trailhead is located left of the parking area, in the direction toward the campground.

There had been a pretty hefty early-season snow in Eagle County just a few days before my arrival, so we were met immediately with snow on the side of the trail. Not much on the trail tread, but enough to enhance the scene in the evergreen forest.

A half mile up, there is an opening on the right into a lovely mountain meadow, nourished by a babbling mountain stream, and overlooked by the craggy Notch Mountain. Soon after, the trail passes through a boulder field left by a long-ago glacier that created this valley.

Climbing in earnest now, the best views are behind you, so be sure to turn around. As you continue to gain elevation, the back bowls of the nearby Vail Ski Resort come into view, then with a few hundred more feet, the rugged peaks of the Gore Range dot the horizon. My brother gave me a topology and geography lesson pointing to the named peaks, as each would be visible from any number of different angles from trails we planned to hike later in the week. Even my addled brain remembered a few.

At 2.5 miles the Fall Creek Trail reaches a junction. Turn right and head to Notch Mountain, or turn left to Lake Constantine. We were after the alpine lake this go ’round.

After the junction, the trail gets a lot more difficult, even treacherous. The terrain is considerably more rugged and hugs the side of a very steep precipice. Believe me, you don’t want to slip and go over the side, you wouldn’t stop tumbling for quite some time. There were two spots that were especially dicey. One that was covered with ice (you should have seen me tippy-toe across), and another that is quite a steep rock scramble over wet shale. It’s even harder on the way down (I had to scooch on my butt). It wouldn’t be the Rocky Mountains if there wasn’t at least some trail excitement.

When you reach an area with a large rock wall on your left that runs for about 100 yards, know that you are getting reasonably close to the lake. The trail begins roller-coastering, going up, then down, then up again. Remember that on the way back when your legs and lungs are tired and you wish it was all downhill.

Finally the lake comes into view from a few hundred yards away. It is surrounded by marshy grassland, so be careful to stay on trail. There are plenty of rocky outcroppings to climb atop for photo ops or simply to sit, rest, and enjoy lunch like we did. It was an especially windy day when we were there, and not particularly warm, so we were looking for a wind break just to avoid the chill while re-nourishing.

This hike runs north to south, so after lunch we decided to see what was at the south end of the lake. We found where Fall Creek enters the lake, as well as a small waterfall on the creek just a short way above the lake. I took the opportunity to pull out my filter and refill the water bladder in my pack from a cold Rocky Mountain stream. There’s no better water anywhere. We frankly hated to leave, but it was already afternoon and we still had a 4.5 mile return.

About the time we started back up the trail from the lake (remember the roller-coaster?), the altitude hit me. My body simply wasn’t used to 11,400′, and my breathing became quite labored whenever going uphill. Fortunately it never got worse than that. I didn’t get ill. I took lots of breaks and breathers for the next hour until we finally reached the point where it really was all downhill from here.

On the way down, the sun had moved to the other side of the ridge, so the lighting perspective was entirely different. It was a beautiful cloudless day that made for lots of pictures, including that shot of Vail’s back bowls with the Gore Range in the background. The time just zipped by and we were back at the trailhead before we knew it.

To summarize, this is a truly scenic hike to a beautiful alpine lake. It is somewhat difficult, with more than 1,700 feet of elevation gain, most of it over 10,700 feet. If you’re a flat-lander, you might not want to make this your first hike upon arriving in the Rocky Mountains. Try something a little easier first, then work into this one after you’ve had a few days to acclimatize. Take a lunch and feel the ambiance at the lake, and take your time. Enjoy the sights and sounds. There’s not much better than simply being there.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

Missouri Lakes Basin in the Holy Cross Wilderness is one of the most beautiful areas in Colorado for hiking and camping that I have experienced. It is an area of lakes and streams filled with trout and large glacial boulders, surrounded by lush forest and tundra, and the gnarly cliffs of the Sawatch Range in the Holy Cross Wilderness. There is some of just about every type of scenery for all hikers to enjoy. The trailhead starts at 10,050 feet and climbs gradually to nearly 12,000 in four miles. This is a popular area as you can imagine, so it is best to avoid weekends. This hike occurred on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 7:15am to about 3:00pm. Our plan was to take the Missouri Lakes Trail from the trailhead along Forest Road 704, and visit four lakes contained within the Missouri Lakes Basin. We would return along the same trail.

My brother and I started early in Vail. There’s a good bit of driving on dirt forest road to get to the Missouri Lakes trailhead, about 11 miles total. The Homestake Road (FR703) turns off Hwy 24 between Minturn and Leadville and travels 8 miles into the backcountry where it meets FR704, and another three miles to the trail. We had to stop about 1/2 mile short of the normal trailhead because the forest road was washed out. It was crisp and cool at 10,000 feet, and foggy, something you don’t see all that often in the Rocky Mountains. I’m quite used to morning fog in the Blue Ridge Mountains — not so much in the Rockies. It made a nice touch hovering among the tall spruce.

Back in the 1960s, Aurora and Colorado Springs won the rights to divert water from the Holy Cross Wilderness. You will know you are in the right place when you notice the diversion dams and massive water pipes alongside the trail for the first 10 minutes or so. Don’t fret however. It doesn’t last long. As the trail starts uphill, there is a very nice, small waterfall along Missouri Creek and the real scenery begins in earnest. Just past a mile, a bridge crosses Missouri Creek at the mouth of a small canyon, creating a roar of rushing water that drowns out all other sound. The trail follows this plunge of the creek for several minutes. There are a few spots where passage is a bit dangerous. Be careful not to slip into the creek.

The trail winds through stands of spruce and fir and crosses the creek several more times. One was especially dicey as there were about 10 saplings laid across the creek to form a makeshift bridge. There was a lump in my throat as I crossed, and a big gulp as I safely reached the other side. At about 10,800 feet we began to clear the treeline and could see the towering cliffs of the Sawatch Range that surrounded us on three sides. In particular, the 13,139 foot Savage Peak dominated the view to the west. It would remain in sight, watching over us, for the remainder of the day. We reached a lush meadow, and there were streams and small ponds everywhere. It is easy to see why the growing cities want this water. Let’s hope the state of Colorado will do the right thing and leave this wilderness pristine for future generations. The sight is simply beautiful.

There is another short, steep climb up to the basin that holds the Missouri Lakes. These lakes may have names, but they are not so designated on the topographic map we had. So I will call them lakes 1-4, in the order that we reached them on our hike. About three miles in we reached Lake 1, on the left of the trail. The water is crystal clear, casting reflections of the nearby mountaintops, and of us back to the sky. Soon after we left Lake 1, we had our first wildlife encounter of the day. A yellow-bellied marmot was watching us watching him, only 10 feet away. He popped in and out of his hole a few times as we futzed with our cameras. After a short 15-20 minutes we reached Lake 2, easily the largest of the Missouri Lakes. I also thought it to be the most beautiful. Nearing the center of the basin, it is surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs above, and fields of glorious wildflowers around its banks. We basked in the good fortune of our perfect seasonal timing as we saw paintbrush, buttercups, columbine, alpine avids and many others.

We noticed there was still quite a bit of snow up here above 11,500 feet. The farther into the basin we went, the more snow we encountered. On the north side of Lake 2 we had to cross a very large snow field for about 100 yards. As we neared some rocks jutting out from the snow, I turned to warn my brother not to sink near the rocks, just as I promptly proceeded to sink knee deep in the snow near the rocks. Kerplop! First my right leg went down, and as I struggled to pull it up, down went my left leg too. Now what to do? After a short struggle I was able to pull myself up onto a rock and survey my next solid step. Needless to say, I avoided that area on the way back later.

Beyond the snow field, it’s a short climb of maybe 100 feet gain to the level of Lake 3. This is the smallest of the lakes, and nearest to Missouri Pass, the way to the Fancy Creek Trail. There were some large glacial boulders near the lake that were perfect for a picnic table as we enjoyed our lunch in the high alpine tundra. There was a group of five young people on the other side of the lake animating like they were thinking of sliding down the snow above the lake right into the frigid water. One brave (or maybe crazy) guy stripped down to his shorts, took a run and slid right in with a mighty splash. As he pulled himself up on the bank, we could hear his yelp all the way across the lake. Apparently he convinced his companions it wasn’t so bad, because for the next 15 minutes we were treated to a hilarious show, as one by one they stripped to their skivvies and acted like polar bears. Who knows? If I’d had some dry drawers in my pack, I might have given it a go. Naw, too dignified.

There was one more lake we wanted to visit on our way back down. We had to pass back by Lake 2 to get there, so we took a spur trail around a cove at the southern end. There we saw the most amazing snow overhangs right above the water. It was similar to a cornice on a mountain, but this was like a snow cave just above water level. With Missouri Pass and a threatening sky in the background, it made a remarkable sight. Don’t ask about the two campers we encountered who asked if we had seen a guy with a llama. From above Lake 4 there is no trail to it, only from below. We knew the general direction, southwest at the base of Savage Peak. So we headed out, off-trail. We had to practice our broad jumping skills a couple times as we leaped across streams, and weaved around boulders and trees. It was entirely worth the effort as Lake 4 was stunning. We found a spot on the south bank with a field of fuchsia wildflowers and just sat for 20 minutes soaking in the scene. The sky even cleared to reveal some royal Colorado blue with puffy white clouds hanging above Missouri Pass. That is the photo at the top of this post.

To get back to the main trail, we had to cross several streams and wetlands, as well as Missouri Creek. We new we wanted to be headed in a generally southeasterly direction, but being Meanderthals as we are, we proceeded with reckless abandon. There were a couple places we had to walk up and down the creek bank looking for a spot suitable and narrow enough to leap across. Amazingly, we managed to find the trail after about 20 minutes — not to mention injury free, and with dry feet. Not too shabby for a pair of 50-somethings. Once back on the Missouri Lakes Trail we retraced our steps down out of the basin. There was a spot we had only briefly noticed on the way up that caught our attention as we paused for a short break. There had obviously been an avalanche there in recent years as everything was simply tossed aside like toothpicks. Quite the devastation. We reached the trailhead after nearly 8 hours, and wouldn’t you know it, there was a guy with a couple llamas.

Best HikeI stopped at the trail sign to take note of everything that was said of this remarkable hike, because I absolutely loved it. I think I would like to return some day and cross Missouri Pass to the Fancy Creek Trail on the other side of the loop. It took us nearly 8 hours to do only an 8 mile hike. Why? Because we were in awe! We dawdled so much to look at scenery. I don’t know that I have ever been on a hike that combined great forest and meadows, streams, creeks, and lakes, and breathtaking mountains, all in one. This is a superb hike that isn’t especially difficult despite the elevation gain. Be sure to allocate a full day to be able to experience the wealth of sights and sounds found along the trail. I highly recommend the Missouri Lakes Basin hike and rate it as one of the best hikes I have done out west. I know you will enjoy it too.

Update July 17, 2017

Dave and I made another visit to Missouri Lakes nearly six years to the day since our previous one. The trail, the mountains, the lakes, the flowers, the creek, the snow… it was all just as beautiful as I remembered. The hiking seemed a bit harder, but I am six years older after all. We went on a Sunday and we stopped counting other hikers at 200. So keep that in mind when planning your own visit. In the summer, perhaps you want to go on a weekday. Here’s a new photo gallery from our most recent trip.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.