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Aspen Ranger District

Quick Facts

Midway Creek Trail

Average Time:	1 - 2 Days one way
Beginning Elevation:	10,504 Feet (3274.3 Meters)
Difficulty:	Difficult
Elevation Gain:	1,616 Feet (503.7 Meters)
Ending Elevation:	10,000 Feet (3117.2 Meters)
Length:	8.8 Miles (14.67 Kilometers) one way
Recommended Season:	Summer to Fall
Trail Number:	1,993
Usage:	Moderate
USGS Maps:	Mt. Champion, Independence Pass, Thimble Rock

		Satellite and Topo Map

General Description

Midway Lake is accessible from the Midway Creek Trail which begins at the Lostman Trailhead on Independence Pass

Copyright: USDA Forest Service
Midway Lake is accessible from the Midway Creek Trail which begins at the Lostman Trailhead on Independence Pass

This is a great trail for backpacking and horse travel. The trail is mostly in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness and is one of the less used trails in the Aspen area. Combined with the Hunter Creek Trail, you can start at the Lost Man Trail parking area and end in Aspen. The trail begins to the left of the bulletin board and quickly crosses a wooden bridge. At 1/2 mile the trail forks, take the left (right goes to the Lost Man Trail) and begin the steep climb up the switchbacks. Shortly you will be in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness and above tree line. The trail contours through alpine meadows on the right side of the Coleman Creek drainage. After crossing to the other side, you reach Midway Pass and follow Midway Creek. The trail passes through forest and meadows. Shortly before the Hunter Creek Trail junction, the trail crosses Hunter Creek. This crossing can be tricky during high spring run-offs, and may even be impassable. In about another 1/2 mile the trail reaches the junction with the Hunter Creek Trail. The left fork will take you to Aspen.

Directions from Aspen: 1. Lost Man Campground: Drive 14 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82 to the parking lot directly across from Lost Man Campground. The trailhead begins on the left (north) side of the highway. 2. Last Switchback: Drive 18-1/2 miles east of Aspen on Highway 82 to the parking lot at the last switchback before the top of Independence Pass. The trailhead is on the left (north) side of the highway.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: June through September (NOTE: Due to snow at high elevations the trail may be obstructed in Early June and Late September.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Winter Conditions. Beware of avalanche danger and hypothermia. Updated: 2002-12-23 14:37:00.0

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