Last week, I wrote about one of the two most popular hikes in beautiful Brainard Lake Recreation Area in the Indian Peaks Wilderness west of Boulder: Lake Isabelle. It’s a close call, but as lovely as Lake Isabelle is, in my opinion it’s actually the least scenic of the two. This one – to one of the many Colorado lakes named Blue Lake – has earned that designation.
This hike departs from the Mitchell Trailhead at Brainard Lake Rec Area and is best completed during the summer months when the road is open and you can drive all the way to the trailhead. It can be hiked year-round, but when the road is closed it more than doubles the distance. At the trailhead, you’ll find parking, a bathroom, informational signs, and a little hut that may be staffed by volunteers.
(For more specific information on entering the Rec Area – note that you must pay a fee and obtain a timed entry parking reservation – and reaching the Mitchell Trailhead, I’ll direct you to my previous post. You’ll also find information there on what to expect in terms of weather and wilderness safety.)
From Mitchell Trailhead, the trail is easy to follow as it weaves through the forest and into the periodic clearings. I’ve seen moose in one of these clearings, so keep your eyes peeled (and your dogs on a leash – which they should be anyway since it’s a wilderness area). Mitchell Lake is just 1 mile (1.6 km) up the trail; it’s a pretty quick and relatively easy hike.
The trail approaches the eastern shore of the lake, with a spur down to the shore. I’ve hiked this trail three times in the summer and once in the fall, and you’ll notice the lake looks a little different every time depending on the lighting, the sky, and the wind.
After enjoying the view here, return to the main trail and continue toward Blue Lake. The trail roughly parallels Mitchell Lake for a short distance, with the occasional glimpse of the water through the trees. In July and early August, the meadows surrounding the lake will likely be teeming with wildflowers.
As we leave Mitchell Lake behind, the trail begins to ascend more steeply. Blue Lake is just 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away but nearly 600 feet (180 m) above Mitchell Lake. All along the trail, scattered patches of trees give way to willowy meadows and small ponds. Over the course of my four hikes, I’ve spotted about a dozen moose in these areas. It might not be a bad idea to pack binoculars for this hike.
On my most recent hike, last fall, not only were there moose hanging out at the ponds… there were also moose hanging out very close to the trail. In fact, one of the moose had lunged at some hikers who got too close.
Fortunately, by the time my hiking buddies and I reached this stretch of trail, word had spread and we knew to step off trail to avoid them. We gave them a wide berth and they left us alone, but it still wasn’t the most comfortable of situations. Moose are very unpredictable.
The final stretch of trail climbs up and over a headwall before dropping down to Blue Lake. A lovely creek cascades over the rocks here, and the pointy profile of Mount Toll rises above the rocks. This last portion is probably the steepest part of the entire hike, but the scenery provides a nice distraction. As you can see in the photo above, the meadow is filled with alpine wildflowers.
And finally, we’ve reached Blue Lake! The water ranges from turquoise to dark blue depending on the day, and various patches of snow will likely dot the surrounding mountains until late summer. Across the lake, a waterfall tumbles down from the melting snow and can often be heard from the opposite shore.
Dozens of large boulders line the shore, making for many places to sit and enjoy the view. I could gladly sit here on the shore of Blue Lake all day if the weather would allow. Alas, it’s typically pretty windy so I don’t usually last very long. Particularly on my September hike, it was really cold at the lake.
A narrow trail does curve part way around the northern shore of the lake, and it’s possible to continue beyond this point to the peaks above. Beware, though, that this is mostly off-trail travel through rocky, rugged, and challenging terrain.
So what’s the verdict? Is Lake Isabelle or Blue Lake your favorite of the Brainard Lake hikes?
Up next: visiting Ancestral Puebloan ruins in southwestern Colorado
The Important Stuff:
- Getting there: The hike to Mitchell and Blue Lakes departs from the Mitchell Trailhead at Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Your maps app should get you there, but screenshot the directions just in case as there is no service once you’re in the mountains.
- Fees and passes: Entry to Brainard Lake Recreation Area for this hike requires (1) a Mitchell Lake Trailhead timed entry parking reservation that must be booked in advance and (2) a $12/car entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass. Be sure to download, screenshot, or print your reservations and passes in advance; there is no service at the trailhead.
- Hiking: Roundtrip distance to Mitchell Lake is 1 miles (1.6 km) with about 230 feet (70 m) of elevation gain. To continue to Blue Lake, it’s an additional 1.5 miles (2.4 km) roundtrip with about 600 feet (180 m) of elevation gain.
- Where to stay: There is one campground in the rec area that must be reserved in advance. Otherwise, this is an easy day hike from the Front Range.
- Other: Beware of moose. There are a lot of them in the rec area and I’ve seen them along this trail every single time I’ve hiked it. They’re often frighteningly close. Be sure your dog is on a leash (which is required anyway, since it’s a wilderness area) and be sure you know what to do in case of an encounter.
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