wildernet

Boulder Ranger District

Quick Facts

Lost Lake Trail #813

Beginning Elevation:	8,700 Feet (2652 Meters)
Difficulty:	More Difficult to Most Difficult
Elevation Gain:	1,100 Feet (342.9 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	9,800 Feet (3054.9 Meters) at Lost Lake
Length, Round Trip:	6 Miles (10.0 Kilometers)
Usage:	Heavy
USGS Maps:	Nederland; East Portal

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

This trail is located west of Nederland and Eldora, in the Middle Boulder Creek Trail System. It accesses Lost Lake. Other linking trails include King Lake, Woodland Lake, and Devil's Thumb/Jasper Lakes. This area offers relatively flat skiing terrain, with steeper pitches as you near the lakes.

This trailhead accesses the southern most drainage of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, approximately 1.6 miles west of the Hessie Townsite. The trail from Hessie to Lost Lake climbs rather sharply up the old wagon road, then opens into a broad, scenic valley.

Start west on the unplowed road leading out of the parking area. At .8 mile, take the left fork and travel through the old Hessie townsite. Continue west for 1.5 miles to reach the Lost Lake Cutoff. At the cutoff, turn south on the Lost Lake Trail and travel .7 mile to Lost Lake. The return trip from Lost Lake to the parking area is 3 miles. Return the same way.

Snow conditions in the open areas may vary from hard pack to powder to wind slab. The descent from the Lost Lake cutoff to Hessie is quite steep and involves a rather sharp 90 degree left-hand turn to cross the bridge over Middle Boulder Creek--Ski within your abilities.

Directions from Nederland: Travel 0.6 mile south on Colorado Highway 119. Turn right (west) on County Road #130 and follow the signs to Eldora Ski Area. Travel past the Eldora Ski Area through the town of Eldora to the end of the plowed road.

Seasonal Information:
Normal Winter Season: Mid-December through April (NOTE: Seasons vary depending on snow depth.) .

		Current Conditions & Trip Reports
		Add your own trip Report! Newly re-released feature. One of the most popular features on Wildernet, trip reports allow you to share your experiences with others. This is an invaluable resource for determining what to expect on your outdoor adventure, so please participate! To prevent spamming, you must be a registered user of Wildernet in order to submit a trip report Filed By: Neal (Denver, CO) Time of Day: 11-3pm Length of Time: approx 4 hrs (with lunch) Difficulty: Moderate Number of People Encountered: 25-50 ppl Recommend to a Friend: Highly Report: This is a relatively easy trail down low with some good climbs but nothing too strenuous. Scenery is nice and location is close to Boulder. A good amount of people travel this trail. Lost Lake is totally frozen over and windswept - a nice location for lunch with good views west up the valley. We snowshoed this (my first time on snowshoes) and I would say this is an excellent trail for beginners. We went off trail as well and had some fun sliding down the hills. A great location close to civilization! Conditions: Snow was well packed on the trail and some spots were bare for 50 yards or so (just before Hessie townsite). Otherwise, good snow for skiing, snowshoeing, or even just hiking in boots. Water Availability: Plenty of water in creek that runs along trail. Recommended Clothing: Was about 40 degrees. We hiked in fleece and shells with hats and gloves. Layers recommended.

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Cross-country Skiing		Yes
	Snowshoeing		Yes

Related Activities

Devils Thumb Trail #902 - This trail is located west of Nederland and Eldora, in the Middle Boulder Creek Trail System. It accesses Devils Thumb Lake. This area offers relatively flat skiing terrain, with steeper pitches as you near the lakes.

King Lake Cross-country Ski Trail - This trail is located west of Nederland and Eldora, in the Middle Boulder Creek Trail System. It accesses King Lake. This area offers relatively flat skiing terrain, with steeper pitches as you near the lakes.

Woodland Lake Trail #811 - This trail is located west of Nederland and Eldora, in the Middle Boulder Creek Trail System. It accesses Woodland Lake. This area offers relatively flat skiing terrain, with steeper pitches as you near the lakes.