wildernet

Blanco Ranger District

Quick Facts

Deer Lake Trail

Difficulty:	More Difficult
Length:	15 Miles (25.0 Kilometers)
Usage:	Moderate

General Description

Leaving the Trappers Lake Trail (#1816) you head east on the Island Lake Trail(#1842). 1/2 mile along the trail you reach the Chinese Wall Trail(#1803) junction. 1 mile further across the rolling tundra you come to the escarpment and below you lies the Island Lakes Basin with several lakes plainly in view. The "W." Mountain Trail (#1817) branches off to the south just before you reach the rim. Dropping off the escarpment you wind your way to the bench below. Half mile further you come to the Deer Lake Trail (#1802) junction, Upper Island Lake lies to your right. The South Derby Trail (#1857) starts winding on its 2 mile journey over the ridge to Crescent Lake, 250 yards further down the trail. Lower Island Lake lies 1/2 mile below the South Derby Trail junction. The Island Lake Trail continues down Derby Creek eight miles or so to FDR 610 at Stump Park.

After leaving the Island Lake Trail, the Deer Lake Trail follows a bench overlooking Island Lake and the Derby Creek drainages. Sheep Mountain forms a backdrop to Island Lake. Two miles down the trail you come out on a point overlooking Deer Lake to the north while Middle Derby Creek to the east lies 800 feet below. The trail drops steeply into Deer Lake being narrow and hazardous for a pack string. From Deer Lake the trail climbs back one mile to the main Flat Tops plateau junctions with the Chinese Wall Trail.

Directions from Meeker: Island Lake, Deer Lake and South Derby trails are located 50 miles east of Meeker. Take State Highway 13 east out of Meeker for one mile; turn right on County Road 8 for 39 miles; then turn right on Trappers Lake road for 10 miles to the Outlet Trailhead. Follow the Carhart Trail around the east side of Trappers Lake to the Trappers Lake trail. On the Trappers Lake trail go 4 miles to the head of Fraser Creek where the Island Lake trail begins. The Deer Lake trail junction and the South Derby trail junction are 2 1/2 miles down the Island Lake trail.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Accessible: May through November (NOTE: Always open. Beware of severe Winter conditions.) .

Current Conditions & Trip Reports

Open Updated: 2000-07-05 17:59:00.0

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

No trip reports filed to date. Please be the first one to do so!

Recreation Opportunities

Activity		Remarks	On Site
	Backpacking
	Hiking & Walking
	Horseback Riding		Yes

Related Activities

Chinese Wall Trail - This trail begins near Ripple Creek Pass and leads into the Flat Tops Wilderness. The trail provides panoramic views of the White River and Williams Fork drainages and the Flat Tops Plateau.

Deer Lake - Deer Lake offers Cutthroat Trout fishing.

Island Lake - The Island Lakes offer Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout fishing.

Island Lake Trail (west end) - The Island Lake Trail begins along Trappers Lake Trail, heads generally east to the Island Lake basin and eventually to Stump Park, on the east end of the Flat Tops.

Trappers Lake Trail - This trail leads from south of Trappers Lake, up Fraser Creek and up onto the Flat Tops Plateau. It continues across the Flat Tops Wilderness to Indian Camp Pass, north of Deep Lake.