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Blue Lake Trailhead (#959)
The first two miles of the trail follows an old wagon trail crossing footbridges over Joe Wright Creek and Fall Creek before entering the Rawah Wilderness. The trail continues to climb toward Blue Lake and Hang Lake. Blue Lake, which is five miles from the trailhead, is a very popular destination or turn-around point. Both lakes are surrounded and protected by a ¼-mile camping closure zone. A short 2.4 mile climb to the north past Blue Lake and a descent to a junction with West Branch trail (#960) allow easy access to Island and Carey Lakes, the Rawah Trail (#961), Twin Crater Lakes, and Grassy Pass. Backpackers often arrange shuttles, entering by the Blue Lake trail and leaving via the West Branch or Rawah trails. The Blue Lake trailhead accommodates approximately approximately 14 vehicles. PLEASE NOTE: This trail was heavily burned during the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire. Now the trail passes through both heavily impacted areas of burned trees and areas that showcase the common mosaic of burned and unburned forest found after a fire. The fire did not reach the alpine tundra.
Download Blue Lake Trail description. (.pdf)
You can find more information on the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers website.
Sawmill Creek is primarily used in the wintertime. This drainage offers unique skiing for most ability levels. Park at the Blue Lake Trailhead and walk 100 yards west along Colorado Highway 14 and over the highway bridge (watch for cars and snowplows). Do not park directly in front of the trail or you may be ticketed, or plowed in by the snowplow. Follow the old logging road 1.5 miles into a giant clear-cut. This area is good for skiing and snowshoeing only if there is adequate snow - otherwise there are logs and stumps. The trail forks here. For the more adventurous, continue west across the clear cut and follow faint old roads and trails towards timberline. The left fork continues about 1.5 miles, and the right fork about 2 miles as the Sawmill Creek drainage continues to steepen. Near timberline pick your way up into either the north or south cirques of Sawmill Creek. While the skiing is fantastic up here, so is the avalanche danger.
Directions: Travel 11 miles northwest of Fort Collins on U.S. Highway 287 to Colorado Highway 14. Turn left on CO 14, and travel 54 miles west to the Blue Lake trailhead parking lot on the right, located across the highway from Forest Road 156, Long Draw Road.
Latlong: 40.579752; -105.855293
At a Glance
| Usage: | Heavy |
|---|---|
| Restrictions: | Wilderness Regulations apply:
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| Closest Towns: | Rustic, Colorado; Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Water: | Water can be filtered and treated from nearby water sources. |
| Restroom: | Please bury human waste 6 |
General Information
Directions:From Fort Collins, CO travel 11 miles northwest on U.S. Highway 287 to Colorado Highway 14. Turn left on CO 14, and travel 54 miles west to the Blue Lake trailhead parking lot on the right, located across the highway from Forest Road 156, Long Draw Road.
Activities
Day Hiking
Hike for about 5 miles to enjoy the popular Blue Lake, near timberline. On a clear day, you will be able to see the Mummy Range in the distance, and maybe cooled by afternoon shadows created by the nearby Medicine Bow Mountains. The trail proceeds beyond Blue Lake to above timberline. Be sure to watch for mountain thunderstorms! The Blue Lake trailhead accommodates approximately 14 vehicles.
| Fire Information | Check for any seasonal fire restrictions before your hike. Portions of this trail prohibit campfires including ¼-mile around Blue and Hang Lakes and above 10,800 feet. Where allowed campfires must be at least 200 feet from water and trails. You may collect dead and down wood; do not break branches from standing trees for firewood. Please attend to campfires at all times. Touch any remaining coals with the bare hand to insure campfire is cold and dead out. Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
|---|
Backpacking
The Blue Lake trailhead accommodates approximately 14 vehicles.| Fire Information | Check for any seasonal fire restrictions before your hike. Portions of this trail prohibit campfires including ¼-mile around Blue and Hang Lakes and above 10,800 feet. Where allowed campfires must be at least 200 feet from water and trails. You may collect dead and down wood; do not break branches from standing trees for firewood. Please attend to campfires at all times. Touch any remaining coals with the bare hand to insure campfire is cold and dead out. Remember, if it is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave! |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
|---|
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
This popular trail offers a long but pleasant ski or snowshoe trip to a high mountain lake. Park at the Blue Lake Trailhead along Colorado Highway 14. The trail leaves immediately from the west corner of the parking lot by the large informational display. The trail inside the wilderness can be difficult to find occasionally because it is not permanently marked beyond the wilderness boundary (reached at about the 2.5 mile mark). Follow the Blue Lake drainage to the lake from where it crosses the trail to avoid avalanche hazards along the summer route. Beware of avalanche danger above Blue Lake.| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
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