jasper lake elevation
While not overly challenging the rocks do take extra time and care to make sure the footing is good so a little bit extra effort on this one. Tad muddy and wet, would wear decent shoes. Will return and hike further to mount jasper or skyscraper peak.
The last 1/2 mile and almost all camping areas are snow covered. We honestly thought this trail was more on the hard side than moderate. If you are a new hiker this might be a little tough for one of your first hikes. Once you join the Devils Thumb trail it will be about 1.7 miles to get to the Jasper Lake/Diamond Lake split. Just after a mile into the hike there will Start your hike at the 4th of July Trailhead, just outside of Eldora, CO. From the trailhead at the north end of the parking lot, steadily climb through the trees until a junction at 1 mile. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The trail will take you within view of a small pond. adventures and follow local regulations. Was a bit of mud and water walking, but it was doable. (3) from the turnoff onto jasper lake this is as good as it gets for a lengthy hike with moderate steepness. Or follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+ United States. Take in the view before heading up the trail, it will get rockier from here. The Ultimate Roommate Compatibility Test: Backpacking the Oregon Coast Trail, 9 Hiking Adventures to Make Your Spring Pure Gold, 9 Spectacular Early Spring Backpacking Trips You Can Do Right Now, The 20 Best Backcountry Lakes to Hike This Summer, A World of Bears: 8 Hikes to See Bruins Around the Globe, The Pacific Northwest Trail Is a Tour of One of Americas Most Gorgeous Regions. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. There are many beautiful falls, lakes, and wildflowers near the route. The normal route from the east side is via the Hessie trailhead outside Nederland Colorado. We arrived at the Nederland high school lot around 7:40am on Sunday to get on the shuttle. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? At the 2WD parking area, pick up the trail that runs along the north side of the 4WD dirt road. Beautiful trail! It took us 5 hours to get to Jasper Lake and back from the Hessie Trailhead. There is a shuttle bus system on the weekends that picks up from Nederland High School and drops off at the trailhead. From Nederland, head south on Colorado Highway 119 for a half-mile. Dont be too distracted by this beautiful water body, though, as its only a starterfor whats to come. If the parking area is full, then go back to Nederland for the shuttle (weekends and holidays). Its a beautiful, moderate hike. Saw maybe 5 people the entire day on it. The lake is sooo gorgeous and peaceful! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Jasper Lake from Hessie Trailhead hike is a very popular trek for hikers and campers. The trail has some steep hills and the terrain is rocky so while it is good for most, there is some challenging portions of the hike. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. The trail has a good amount of elevation to it with about 2000 feet total in the 5 miles out. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Visitor Information: 970-295-6600, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=28244, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland. 5 stars.
When you get towards the top of the hill the view back toward the trailhead is pretty amazing of the valley. From here take Devils Thumb trail to Jasper Lake. The path is also very rocky with some loose rock. If the weather is looking good and youre up to adding two more miles and approximately 1hr to your hike, then continue up the trail to Devils Thumb Lake to gain views and get photos another alpine lake and the rock formation of Devils Thumb that protrudes from the ridgeline. Travel an additional mile beyond Jasper to see Devils Thumb, a striking rock formation that looms above Devils Thumb Lake. Great views of the mountains, waterfalls and wild flowers galore. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I was also moving for a total of 5 hours and 19 minutes. With picturesque babbling brooks and past vast wildflower, Today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. Jasper Lake is surrounded on three sides with trees and a steep ridgeline to the north. Once at the trailhead follow Devils Thumb trail to Jasper lake. Very technical trail running, but rewarding.
Port a pottys were at the shuttle stop and at the trailhead. The trail navigates around the southern bank of Albino Lake, heading west, and then continues along the western shore. In the spring and early summer the river runs high and the trail can often be flooded or wet and in the winter this area gets a lot of snow so snow shoes may be necessary. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The trail overall covered so many vistas I want to see on a hike! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Mosquitoes won't bother you if you're moving but if you stop next to water they'll start to bite. Leave the meadow and start a more rigorous hike uphill. All Photos, images, logos, video FatManLittleTrail. As an out and back I would say this is close to a hard hike but I am going to list it as Moderate as a lot of people do this as an overnight and stop at the lake. Looking for SPONSOR options or to ADVERTISE with FatManLittleTrail? The way up is challenging at parts, but would say a gradual incline overall. Sunday July 17. The hike to the lake is mostly uphill, but offers beautiful views of Indian Peaks Wilderness, Lost Lake and several far off rivers that race down the mountains. Share sensitive information only
The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Once you get past the first 1.3 miles of everyone going to lost lake, this trail is VERY quiet. We took the shuttle from Ned high, definitely recommend and its free!! connected to the .gov website. At just over two miles of uphill hiking, hikers encounter Swan Lake. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The trail takes you through some thicker woods before coming upon the lake. Lots of doggies, I had to carry my little Pom in a handful of spots. Will be back when its warmer and all the snow is gone. Count on extra mile from whats listed. It is more like steps so you can take your time. At 2 miles, you'll reach another junction in a large flat area. Really gorgeous hike tho! What an amazing trail!!! Great place to bird watch and take a break next to the river. Elevation: 9,000 feet at Hessie TH; 10,814 feet at Jasper Lake; 11,180 feet at Devil's Thumb Lake; 12,000 at High Lonesome Trail; 11,775 feet at Devil's Thumb Pass. 10/10, beautiful at the lake. Parking starts along the street next to the trailhead and fills up fast. Get the Hiking Guide and our Trail Dispatch for hiking tips and new trails. The trail begins from the Hessie Carpark, arrive early to secure a spot as parking is limited!
The description will be based on the normal route but feel free to use your imagination and combine off-trail advent Lost Lake of the Indian Peaks Wilderness area is a scenic short hike (about 3 hours) with a lot to see. Very quiet and very few other people on the trail and at the lake. You get it all on this hike. The trail continues another mile to Devils Thumb Lake, and a mile beyond that to the Continental Divide. Wildflowers are beginning to bloom in the meadows on the way. Loved the views! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The path will border the edge of Jasper Creek as it gains elevation and merges back onto the Devils Thumb Trail. Wildflower season is a perk! Most people just went as is, but I was glad I had microspikes! ALL IMAGES VIDEOS AND CONTENT FATMANLITTLETRAIL. The Hessie area is also very crowded so be ready to deal with lots and lots of people. This huge alpine lake is remarkable in itssize, a sizewhich you'll get to know well,as the trail hugs the eastern shore. The trail climbs over 1,200 feet with a starting elevation of over a mile-and-a-half above sea level. LockA locked padlock
I would recommend a good pair of waterproof hiking boots to deal with the uneven and often wet terrain. Some snow still around but nothing that makes the trail difficult. Within that mile is one of the most lovely spaces I have seen. Actual jasper lake is not as pretty as crater lakes. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Would totally do it again! From Albino Lake, this unofficial trail starts to become a little harder to follow. Was extremely windy and cold at the lake, so bring layers until it gets warmer. If you are worried about securing a spot, consider taking the RDT free shuttle from the town of Nederland! Once at the lake you will have an exceptional vantage point of Mount Jasper and neighboring peaks! Continue along this wooded trail staying right at the junction, merging onto Devils Thumb Bypass Trail. The bypass trail is shorter and crosses open meadows to the north of the creek, but it bypasses intersections with King Lake and Woodland Lake trails. If you wish to return to the carpark, retrace your steps, staying right at the first junction. They are often spotted along this trail! A bit of snow near the lake itself. However, the trail itself is clear tofollow the entire way,only getting fainter from Albino Lake to Jasper Lake. After steep rocky trails to have this view kind of makes you forget about the pains in your feet and knees and be able to get reenergized again! If you want to lengthen your adventure, continue left on Devils Thumb Trail. The waterfall can be heard as you make your way up to it. Lots of bugs at the lake too. This short but steep hike will get your, The Buchanan Pass Loop is an awesome adventure trail. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. (2) the first mile or so of this trail to the jasper lake turnoff is packed with people and not so pretty but in part thats because of the accessibility. Lots of water on the trail, but it's possible to stay mostly dry if you pick your steps carefully. For me, it was a perfect distance and difficulty for a longer day hike and I was happy to just enjoy some time and head back down the hill.
Continue along the path until you arrive back at the parking lot. Lake was beautiful. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Great for beginner backpackers (who are acclimated and in decent shape!). The last two miles up to the lake were challenging due to the snow but well worth it! The to Jasper Lake from the Hessie Trailhead can be pretty challenging. www.HessieTrailhead.com. Tons of wild flowers, waterfalls, stream crossings, lakes, this hike really had it all. Otherwise, enjoy the lake, the meadow, the views and the challenge that makes up the Jasper Lake hike. Might even see some people fishing for Brook Trout. We had some issues with bugs. Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
The road is rough in places but passable by any car when dry. 2021Outdoor Project. If traveling on the the Devils Thumb (main trail) then youll encounter a second intersection marked by signage pointing left to Lost Lake and King Lake, and right for Devils Thumb Lake, Jasper Lake, and Woodland Lake. Indian Peaks Wilderness is known for its brilliant wildflowers that bloom from early to mid-summer. The trail becomes much more narrow here and also a lot rockier. Opening meadow is filled with gorgeous wildflowers this time of the year. Camping is allowed at designated sites only and campfires are not allowed. Very slushy and slippy coming back. This extension will bring you to Devils Thumb Lake. The trees clear at this point and the side of the mountain is blanketed with rocks, the peaks surrounding the lake can barely be seen. Shuttle was super easy with not much of a wait. Most hikers will begin the hike up to Jasper lake at the Hessie 2WD parking area. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The hike to Becker and Albino Lakes will likely inspirefuture plans to revisit Beartooth High Lakes country. The parking is limited and gets crowded early, you may need to take the shuttle if you arrive later in the day. The core of the hike is uphill and on a gravel path, 2/3rds of the hike runs parallel to a rushing waterfall. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. (
From Nederaland, drive a little more than a quarter mile south on Colorado State Highway 119. The Jasper Lake Trail is one of the most popular trails in Roosevelt National Forest. Join Outside+ to get Backpacker magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building E
Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 51 min to complete. We hiked this for an overnighter. The hike was more like 10.15 miles because you start 1/2 mile before the trailhead. This is one of the most beautiful places I have seen in Colorado. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this wildflower-speckled trail as it, Beaver Creek Trail is a great wooded hike through the Colorado wilderness. The first portion of the hike is actually up Hessie Road. The vistas from this alpine lake are like no other! The road continues through Eldora, and changes to Eldorado Road. About 500 yards of open with trees on either side and mountain peaks in the distance. Jasper Lake will likely be frozen over in the winter. Multiple stunning lakes. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. The road isnt too hard to hike down for the first half mile but just after the half mile point is one of the more challenging hills of the hike. Theres a beautiful open valley going into the Indian wilderness area. On a clear day you will also be able to spot the towns of Eldora and Nederland in the distance! The trailhead has room for about a dozen cars on the side of the road and a couple of port-o-potties. Lots of wild flowers/waterfalls along the way. :). Elevation gains are minimal between the two lakes, but noticeable, as the trail navigates well over 10,000 feet. Keep venturing along Hessie Road, crossing the North Fork Middle Boulder Creek. Take the right fork towards Arapaho pass.You'll start to climb above treeline, with spectacular views of the valley and surrounding peaks. If youre used to hiking out here, I would say this is on the easier side. The left fork goes to Hessie Trailhead. The landscape's remoteness brings to question just how many humans have made it back here? I brought extra foot traction today but didnt need anything except a good pair of waterproof boots and my poles. Lots of snowfields the last mile. Length: Hessie Trailhead (TH) to Jasper Lake - 4.5 miles; Devil's Thumb Lake - 5.5 miles; Continental Divide - 6.5 miles. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We backpacked up to Jasper and spent one night. There is parking for 4WD vehicles further up the dirt road and closer to the beginning of the official trail. However, the trail leading to the left, the Devils Thumb Trail, will be a more scenic choice. About 3/4 of a mile outside of Eldora, the road will split, 4th of July Road goes to the right, and Hessie will turn to the left. About half the hike is wading through water or snow. Jasper Lake is a remote backcountry body of water deep in the Beartooth Mountains, accessible from the Beartooth Highway. Jasper Lake requires a 5.5-mile (one-way) hike into the mountainous, wildflower-laden Indian Peaks Wilderness. This adds about 1 mile to the total hike distance, making this an 11-mile hike (round-trip). I saw Jasper Lake last summer while hiking the High Lonesome Loop, but it was late in the season and it had been drained quite a lot, so I was unimpressed. This trail is moderate, and the elevation gain is fairly gradual, but nonetheless considerable. Be mindful of the sky when emerging from the forest into the open sections of high-country meadows and tundra. Lots of water on the trails had to leap from stone to stone to stay dry. The heavier trees will eventually lead to a trail junction where The Devils Thumb Bypass will meet with Devils Thumb trail. Bask in the beauty of the Colorado Ranges and spot the towns of Nederland and Eldora in the distance! After crossing the creek, the trail becomes the Devils Thumb Trail. An excellent snowshoe adventure a reasonably short drive from Denver with fantastic views culminating in a beautiful lake. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The best part is that it is the flattest half mile of the hike! The Hessie Trailhead is a very popular trailhead that originates several hikes just outside of Nederland, Colorado. About 1/2 mile before arriving at Jasper Lake, a trail sign will point the way northeast to Diamond Lake. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Once you come up to Hessie Trailhead, you'll already be in a daze because you'll be staring at Eldora Mountain and will see some ski runs in the distance.Getting to the trailhead early is best. The trail climbs up to Jasper Lake where you will have beautiful views of the mountains as well as the Town of Eldora and Nederland Colorado. The 2WD Hessie Trailhead Parking area is at this split. Thunderstorms, during in the Summer months, can come up quickly due to orographic lift, a phenomenon caused by the heated rock faces of our mountains thrusting moisture into the skies along the Front Range. From the parking area begin hiking the Arapaho pass trail, which will gently gain elevation through forests with occasional glimpses across the valley. This is a very popular area for backpacking, camping, and fishing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. Diamond Lake Trail forks right (north) about a half-mile before the trail reaches Jasper Lake. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
All rights reserved. Moose frequent the wetlands on this segment of the trail, so be alertyou may get a chance to snap some photos of them. Once at the lake walk around the perimiter to find your own secluded alcove within the trees. Constant vistas. The trail itself is very well maintained with some beautiful views. For full details on the Hessie Trailhead Shuttle, please visit the Boulder County page for the Hessie Trailhead shuttle service. Lots of snow at the top, path is a stream! Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. As soon as Jasper Lake comes into full view, so does Golden Lake immediately to the west. Day hikers can find the time to catch their breath and enjoy the views before starting their return hike down to the trailhead. Lots of mosquitoes like everyone said. Was a little long but felt good to relax at the lake. Oh Wow! After 1/4 mile, the forest gives way to a meadow and opens up to panoramic views of the peaks of Indian Peaks. Beautiful, diverse hike! Some of the lakes include the Lost Lake, King Lake, Diamond Lake, and Woodland Lake. About two miles beyond the turn off to the ski area you will pass through the town of Eldora where the road turns to gravel. The parking at Hessie Trailhead is limited, so be sure to take some time to review these details before departing for your hike to Jasper Lake. on official, secure websites. After Beauty Lake, the trail continues up a steep uphill portion until reaching an unmarked junction. The best times to visit this trail are March through October. Long hike, a bit rocky with some steep inclines, but so many gorgeous things to see along the way! The trail to Becker Lake, Albino Lake, and Jasper Lakeis not an official Forest Servicedesignated route. This shuttle departs from the RTD Park-n-Ride in Nederland, CO. At the roundabout in Nederland, Colorado, drive south onto CO-119/South Bridge St. Take a right onto Eldora Road which will take you to Elodora Colorado. The Devils Thumb Bypass turns right (north) just before the second bridge. Had a nice time by the lake in hammocks and was the perfect afternoon lunch. Join our Community.
Following along this path, the elevation gain will become more intense. Its about protecting what sustains us. Copyright 2022 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. Stay left at the next junction. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. No spam. Veering to the left are trails to Becker and Albino Lakes, and further up, Jasper Lake. Following the curves of the Jasper Creek, this route guides hikers through the scenic, meadow laden valley between Chittenden and Skyscraper Peak before delivering you to Jasper Lake. worthy of a second picture. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Turn west onto County Road 130, signed for Eldora. Two trailheads on the Wyoming side of Beartooth Pass offer optional starting points to reach Jasper Lake. After crossing the bridge near the trailhead, the trail climbs the mountainside via an old mining road. DISTANCES ARE ONE-WAY.
Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. You have the option of doing the Devils Thumb Bypass Trail to Devil Thumb Lake. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. At the first trail intersection, both trail options will take hikers to Jasper Lake, and both options are approximately the same length. But like any hike in High Lake country, every step is rewarded with inspiring views. This trail lies within the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area: Hiking conditions are best from July through September. Four and half miles from the Hessie Trailhead, and after one last steep incline, you finally come to the Jasper/Diamond Lake junction. The waterfall was amazing. IndianPeak Wilderness restrictions apply: Lakes and streams; treat water for drinking. You can cross the creek and take this towards Lost Lake or head north and head towards Jasper Lake. Pretty. Nothing too strenuous for too long. Jasper Lake Trail is a nice, half-day hike through the Indian Peaks Wilderness to Jasper Lake. Kinda muddy with plenty of water on the trail as you get closer to the lake. Beware: the bottom of the lake is very rocky, I wouldnt advise jumping in before testing the bottom first., Once youve had a snack and let the cool wind that blows off the lakes surface cool you down head back to the trail, which is a quick trip down to your car.. I read all of the recent reviews before hiking and they were all very helpful. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada. Now, the terrain becomes more demanding. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. Its important to know that rains can quickly flood this segment of Hessie Road between the 2WD and 4WD trailheads. Great fishing! The part which can be seen in most likely several small waterfalls. We lengthened our hike a little by adding Lost Lake on the way up, which I believe added about a mile and a half to the total length of the trail. From the west it is most often accessed via the short trail from Rollins pass, which is open in the summer. Rainy when we started but was light and refreshing to hike in. Hiking the Indian Peaks Wilderness' Lost Lake, Hike to the Lost Lakes via the Hessie Trail, Upper Diamond Lake via Fourth of July Trailhead. Bridge is out about .25 miles north of the devils thumb fork. Had everything from water features, lush greenery and tons of views.
Hungry and hot, we found this little spot to have lunch. Starting at 9100 feet, the Hessie trailhead is easily accessible by both 2 and 4 wheel drive cars (depending on how far you want to travel down the road). It looks much prettier full of water! Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. According to AllTrails todays hike was around 10.58 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 1,955 feet including undulations. Long. Beautiful wildflowers and the Creek is roaring. Expect to see fewer crowds than other popular spots encountered along the eight-mile journey to Jasper. Plenty of water early in season! Official websites use .gov A .gov
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Youre always going to get a little snow or mud that high up but it wasnt anything that would inconvenience you. After reaching the north shore of Albino Lake, the hike zig-zags over a small pass and small rock gardens to reach Jasper Lake. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Just 40 minutes outside of Boulder Colorado and about 1hr 15 minutes from Denver, the trail to Jasper Lake gets its start at the Hessie Trailhead. I forgot poles but I'm sure they would have helped a ton. At this point its a 15-20 minute hike until the lake. Great trail, a bit buggy at the lake but from start to finish it was pretty beautiful. The trailhead for the Jasper Lake Hike is off the Fourth of July Road at the Hessie Parking Lot. Beautiful hike and trail. Amazing trail! Happy Hiking! The trail begins at the 4th of July trailhead, which is located near the Eldora ski area and can be crowded during the summer and weekends. Explore the full Jasper Lake hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and more tips and details to help you enjoy this adventure in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The half mile long hill has inclines up to a 16% grade on a wide path with loose gravel. The Jasper Lake Trail begins from the Hessie Trailhead in Nederland, Colorado. so so awesome! The hike is longer and there are definitely some challenging sections but it was still really enjoyable. The trail is fairly easy and often packed down snow up to the cut off point to the Devil's Thumb Bypass, which allows a bypass of Lost Lake and a slightly shorter trip. This trail guides the hiker past a waterfall within the first 2 miles and through a meadow blooming with yellow, red and purple flowers., There will be a point in the trail when three small streams cross over the trail and run down the mountain. florida girl here! That put the high point at around 10,860 feet. Start your journey from the Hessie trailhead by hooking onto the Hessie Road Trail. Just down the trail from Swan Lake, the massive shores of Beauty Lake come into view. The Jasper Lake Hike is a crowd-favorite in the Roosevelt National Forest. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
