Rise and Hike! Fit & Fun Weekday Hikers

Difficulty: Moderate: about 8 miles with about 1,600 to 1,700 feet elevation gain.

NOTE THAT WE ARE MEETING AT THE EAST TRAILHEAD.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: This lollipop loop trail weaves through meadows and evergreen forest with terrific views to the east of the front range hogback and the eastern plains. See the following hike in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/belcher-hill-maverick-trail-longhorn-trail-loop

DOGS: Allowed on a leash. Please be sure your dog is well behaved and can handle the length of the walk. Dog owners must clean up pet excrement, per Jefferson County Open Space Regulations (https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/8982).

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the White Ranch Park EAST Trailhead. The trailhead address is 21827 W. 56th Ave, Golden, CO 80403. Alternatively, you can click the Alltrails link above and click directions. Or if you use google maps, you can type in “White Ranch Park East Trailhead” to get there. If you use Apple Maps, you can type in “White Ranch East Trailhead” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential. PLEASE ALSO BRING MICROSPIKES IN CASE WE NEED THEM!

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.81846000000007&lon=-105.28679999999997

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.

Let’s do my first snowshoe meetup. I haven’t snowshoed for many years and I just bought some new snowshoes which I’ve not yet used. My goal will be to get to Lake Isabelle…assuming the new snowshoes work out well and snow conditions allow. A few of us with new snowshoes will be trying them out for the first time on this hike so the plan is that everyone can go as far as they like and turn around when they’ve had enough…so I recommend everyone download the alltrails route I’ve provided below. And for any of you who are experienced snowshoers, please be patient with us newbies. 😊

FEE: There is now a $10 fee to park at the Brainard Winter Lot aka Brainard Gateway Trailhead. If you have the America the Beautiful Pass, there is no fee but you must display the pass on your dashboard or hang it from your rear view mirror. If you need to pay the $10, you must use the Scan & Pay System and they recommend that you DOWNLOAD THE APP PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. See details here: https://www.recreation.gov/activitypass/AP22912

DIFFICULTY: If you choose to go all the way to Lake Isabelle, it is about 11 miles with 1,000+ feet elevation gain. Elevation at Lake Isabelle is about 10,900 feet.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: Let’s snowshoe to one of my favorite alpine lakes…or at least see if we can make it all the way to Lake Isabelle. The view of Lake Isabelle framed by jagged granite peaks is the kind of picture-perfect scene that nature lovers pine for. We will start at the Winter Lot and hike the closed road to Brainard Lake. From there, we will either take the Niwot Cutoff Trail to Long Lake or we will continue up the road to the Long Lake Trailhead and get to Long Lake from there…just depends on trail/snow conditions. From Long Lake, we will continue on to Lake Isabelle if conditions allow. See the following hike in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lake-isabelle-trail-winter

DOGS: NO dogs! Brainard does not allow dogs on most of the trails in winter.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the Winter Lot (aka Gateway Trailhead Parking Lot) which is the parking area on your right, right before the entry station to the park. To get to the Winter Lot, you can click on the alltrails link above and click directions. Or if you use Google maps, you can type in “Brainard Lake Winter Lot” for directions.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead and to pay the fee.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, gaiters, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential. FOR THIS HIKE BRING SNOWSHOES. MICROSPIKES ARE ALSO RECOMMENDED.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-105.59426834971606&lat=40.069561137945556

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the waiver prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.

Let’s head to Ouray and hike Lower, Middle, and Upper Blue Lakes in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness…considered one of the most beautiful hikes in CO. Then let’s hike to Columbine Lake which is considered by many to be an even more beautiful turquoise color than Ice and Island Lakes which we did last year.

READ ALL DETAILS BEFORE SIGNING UP AS THIS EVENT INVOLVES 2 DAYS HIKING & 1 DAY ENJOYING THE HOT SPRINGS, ETC. ALSO READ ALL THE DETAILS ABOUT THE HIKES AS COLUMBINE LAKE IS QUITE STEEP SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THE HIKES SUIT YOUR ABILITIES. EVERYONE WILL SIGN UP ON THE WAITLIST AND I WILL CONFIRM PEOPLE. THOSE WHO ATTEND MY HIKES REGULARLY WILL GET PREFERENCE.

WHEN CONFIRMED, BOOK YOUR LODGING ASAP AS HOTELS ARE ALREADY FILLING.

Re the Lower, Middle, Upper Blue Lakes Hike, the U.S. Forest Svc has decided to institute a permit sys for the trail, but when it will take effect remains undetermined. They say it could launch the summer of 2025 if the technology is ready, but it is more likely to be launched in 2026. So we need to keep an eye on this and get the permits if it launches in 2025.

HIKE DIFFICULTY: Moderate Plus/Strenuous. Columbine Lake Hike will be about 8 miles with about 2,800 feet elev. gain. Lower, Middle, Upper Blue Lakes hike will be about 9-11 miles with about 2,500-3,000 feet elev. gain.

CARPOOL: From Ouray, we will carpool to both hikes. Lower, Middle, Upper Blue Lakes hike is very popular so it will be busy. For the Columbine Lake hike, we will most likely not park at the TH due to the terrible road & there is minimal parking available. Carpool meeting spot will be added later.

LODGING: I booked a room for 4 nights…checkin July 21 and departure July 25 at Ouray Riverside Resort. Here is a link to their website: https://www.ourayriversideresort.com
You may book lodging elsewhere if you like. But booking near Ouray would be best as one hike is N. of Ouray and the other is S. of Ouray…so Ouray is central for the hikes and everyone being in Ouray makes carpooling easier.

RESTAURANT MONDAY JULY 21 AT 4PM: For the first night, let’s have dinner at Colorado Boy Southwest Pub. Since we have to get up early, let’s meet at the restaurant at 4pm. The address is 516 Main St., Ouray. Here is a link to their website: https://www.coloradoboyouray.com

DAY 1: HIKE COLUMBINE LAKE: TUESDAY JULY 22 AT 5:45AM: Meet at the carpool location in Ouray at 5:45am. For the Columbine Lake hike, we need to drive south on the Million Dollar Hwy and I prefer to NOT drive in the dark along the cliffs. The Columbine Lake Trail in the San Juan Mtns is considered one of the most beautiful hikes off the scenic Million Dollar Hwy! Nestled among 13,000-ft. peaks lies the breathtakingly beautiful turquoise Lake. As we ascend the steep trail, we will be rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, filled with vibrant wildflowers, and towering peaks. The Trail climbs up about 13 switchbacks for about 1.3 miles until the trail reaches treeline. The switchbacks are fairly steep and may feel strenuous at elevation, which begins at about 10,340 ft. at the trailhead. Also there is an exposed ridge towards the top that you should be aware of. I have posted a photo of it in the photos section of this event. See the following hike in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/columbine-lake-trail-509

DAY 2 JULY 23: HOT SPRINGS & RELAXATION: Since both hikes are somewhat strenuous, we will have a day off inbetween. On this day everyone can do as they please…enjoy the hot springs, check out Ouray, visit Box Canyon Waterfall, etc.

DAY 3: HIKE LOWER, MIDDLE, UPPER BLUE LAKES: THURSDAY JULY 24 AT 4:30am: Meet at the carpool location in Ouray at 4:30am. This hike is super busy, so we need to get an early start. Many rate the Blue Lakes Trail as one of the top hikes in not only the San Juan Mtns, but CO as a whole. The hike features three turquoise green lakes that are surrounded by 13,000+ foot peaks, including Mt. Sneffels, Dallas Peak, and Gilpin Peak. Even without the lakes, the mountain views on this hike are jaw dropping on their own! See the following hike in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lower-middle-and-upper-blue-lakes
We will hike at least to Upper Blue Lake. If some are interested, they may hike above Upper Blue Lake.

DOGS: Not allowed.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses, hat, gloves, and anything else you deem essential. BRING HIKING POLES AS THEY COULD BE A MUST ON THE STEEP DESCENT FROM COLUMBINE LAKE.

REQUIRED WAIVER: If you have not already done so, you must sign the waiver prior to this hike.