Up 1,500 feet of switchbacks, across the divide -so no gain, down 800 feet of switchbacks, hang out at the lake, return back up 800 vertical feet of switchbacks, across the divide, and then back down the last 1,500 feet of switchbacks. Turquoise Trails. I suppose everyone should always know that a mountain lion may be in the area. That helped a lot. He did seem very healthy and this was good news for humans as there seems to be plenty deer in the area. Keep an eye out for small, delicious strawberries on the descent down to Native Lake. I do want to make a note that the mountain lion although near our campsite was actually tracking a deer that showed up a few minutes later. At 11.6 miles, this ADA accessible trail winds through aspen groves, conifer forests, and wildflower meadows, while providing stellar views of downtown Leadville and the Sawatch and Mosquito mountain ranges, most notably Mt. All Rights Reserved. The app is wrong about the mileage and if is further than presented... by a few miles. I started at 7:30am. Was inspired by the two ladies we met who were 80+. Highly recommend. The lake view was semi underwhelming but we were happy with the hike to and from! Wildflowers everywhere and hummingbird moths were so neat. Stopped in the alpine meadow for lunch and looked out at mount massive and Leadville. Absolutely gorgeous hike, highly recommend doing it before it snows again. The trailhead is about 3 miles up the Hagerman Pass Road (Forest Service Road 105), with parking on the south side of the road. We took a right and continued another 2 .5 miles but it’s not a loop. The trail is really well marked and the hike on a whole had a great mix of sun and shade. The route is 11. No snow on the trail. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Big Willis Gulch Trail 11.2 mi 18.1 km • 3,016' Up 919.34 m Up • 3,016' Down 919.3 m Down. 1 large 4-person room (two-bunks) Bathrooms. Recommended Routes in Leadville - 8 Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. A hike mostly through forest with views of Turquoise Lake below, and the continental divide above. Can’t beat this trail for scenery and old mining history. As others have stated, the all trails route is not correct. r/hiking: The hikers' subreddit. 13 Trails. I would recommend stopping around the 3.5 mile mark once you start getting the views of the lake from above. I am not complaining but I want people to be able to accurately judge their abilities and time. Rocky Mountain Goat . Private Rooms. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re breathing fresh mountain air. I have never had that experience before hiking so I did not know what to think but we hurried along. Great day. Booth Lake Trail – Vail. Then there are the old mines along the way, Baby Doe ‘s Matchless mine and more Best time to ride this is in the fall … Select from premium Leadville Trail of the highest quality. 3 king bed rooms. Hikes in Leadville can be short or long. The lake itself wasn’t the most exciting. You start under tree line, hike up to a beautiful valley and then hike down to Native Lake. tried to do it today and couldn't make it to the trailhead. would have had to walk about 2 miles up, but I didn't have snowshoes which absolutely would have been necessary. At 2.18 miles, you break out onto a wide tundra plateau. Add Your Trails. Gradual climb up through forest with a number of lovely stream crossings. At the time we hiked (July 28), there was an amazing amount of beautiful wild flowers. Best path to get around the lake is to the left at the trail junction when you reach the lake. Press J to jump to the feed. It might be better if you follow the other trail around to the east side of the lake, but I did this after Windsor Lake hike, so I was pretty beat. Other than that we had a fantastic hike up and down and even a one-day Excursion up to Rainbow Lake which was a little bigger than native Lake and just as nice. Native Lake in the Mount Massive Wilderness near Leadville, CO is a wonderful trail filled with variety. Along the way the route crosses a broad tundra clad plateau featuring wonderful views of the Continental Divide and Mt. Camped over the weekend at the lake and hardly saw anyone else. Total hike with extension was 10.4 miles. I did this trail on 6/26/20. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from June until September. We liked Hagerman pass better! You climb thru aspens w incredible views of 2 14ers, Turquoise lake and more. Photo taken a few weeks after the wildfires in Breckenridge, CO. Elemental. The lake, as many mentioned, hardly felt like the best view of the hike, but was still gorgeous and well worth it. Trail opens up to a beautiful vista full of wildflowers framed by beautiful mountains. ... 6.4 mi 10.3 km #3 Turquoise Lake Trail. Hardly any snow on the actual trail anymore. Park at the dam and hike the Turquoise Lake Trail along the lake to Mayqueen Campground. Massive are a few of the scenic delights along this beautiful trail paralleling the eastern flanks of the Continental Divide west of Leadville.Read Full Description. The lot is small, so recommend starting early. Leadville is the statutory city that is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, United States. Elbert, Mt. Massive, and crystal blue Turquoise Lake. Very beautiful hike and not too challenging. The Native Lake / Highline trail traverses the eastern flank of the Continental Divide near Leadville. 2 bunk bed rooms. Gorgeous trail that opened up into a huge meadow filled with wild flowers. Massive, and on Aug. 12, the destination is Hartenstein Lake near Cottonwood Pass. Mohawk Lakes Trail – Breckenridge. Snow is mostly melted, so not necessary to bring spikes or poles. Leadville is situated at an elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 m). You cross a stream several times. The trail takes you to Native Lake (4.2 miles) and to the Leadville National Fish Hatchery (9.4 miles). Wildflowers on Native Lake Trail, Leadville, CO. Starting out, it's all up hill for a good hour then it levels off for a bit giving you a little break and a pretty awesome panoramic view of the range before you start heading down to the lake for about a half hour. Intermediate. Weekly Photo Challenge: Elemental . The hike was gorgeous! 1 queen bed room. Crowd sourced trail reports indicating current trail status & conditions for Leadville, Colorado Along the way the route crosses a broad tundra clad plateau featuring wonderful views of the Continental Divide and Mt. Why Hike Native Lake Highline Trail. I cut the trip at about 3 miles one way, had lunch just after I started the decent toward the lake and made it a 6mi out and back and it was perfect. The Native Lake Trail traverses the eastern flank of the Continental Divide near Leadville Colorado. The hikes will meet up at 7:30 a.m. and end around 2 p.m. Wildflowers along the way are in full bloom, especially along the water. Note: Many of the links are affiliate links which means I receive a very small commission (at no added cost to you). Find the perfect Leadville Trail stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. You can divide the hike into sevenths. The Native Lake / Highline trail traverses the eastern flank of the Continental Divide near Leadville. Massive (14,421-ft.), visits scenic Native Lake and then wanders through woods and meadows to two small lakes along the base of Mt. The park is open year-round and located just minutes from a fabulous fishing lake. View east from Native Lake Trail, Leadville, CO. Wildflowers_Native Lake Trail AB_090730_Z8Q0499.jpg. We did fire a few shots to scare him off and he finally disappeared or at least we thought so. Submit a Comment Cancel reply. The road is named after James … Amazing views and a great hike. Native Lake Hike, Leadville, CO. Starts off of Degerman Pass above Turquoise. really nice hike! © HikingWalking.com. Popular day hikes include Hope Pass, made famous by the Leadville Trail 100, family-friendly Native Lake, Timberline Lake in the majestic Holy Cross Wilderness Area, and the steep, heart pumping Windsor Lake Trail. Massive. ... Trails in Leadville - 32. Incredibly well marked, even with the recent foot of snow. Select from premium Leadville Trail 100 of the highest quality. Hagerman Pass Road (FSR #105) is a difficult dirt road you can hike, run, mountain bike, and horseback ride that is dog friendly. Very nice hike! From Leadville, follow signs to Turquoise Lake. Areas Within Leadville. It is damp, mysterious, and filled with pizza-sized mushrooms, many of them edible. The stream washout was also amazing. See more ideas about leadville, leadville colorado, colorado. Way too much horse manure though. The trail up and over the divide to Native Lake is a very nice well switchbacked trail. Native Lake Trail – Leadville, CO. August 16, 2017 by LetItSnow91 Leave a comment. We have reported this to the authorities so they can make it known to other hikers and campers. On the hike back there was quite a bit of horse poop on the trail. Beautiful scenery and so calm. ... Leadville, CO. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from December until April. Native Lake Trail, Leadville AB_090730_Z8Q0569.jpg. The trail that surrounds the lake is approximately 15 miles, making for a long hike that offers glimpses of clear blue water and shade from the many pine tress surrounding the lake. Although much of this trail is below tree line, there are segments above tree line with high exposure. The mile at the top is above the tree line. Encircling Leadville is the Mineral Belt Trail, one of Colorado’s highest and most scenic paved pathways. such a sight felt like you are really in the mountains! Once you get to the lake, take a left turn toward the lake. The highlight was the big valley above the lake. I didnt go down to the lake since it looked way swampy and the view from the trail above was just too nice. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 6.3 mi 10.1 km #1 Turquoise Lake Singletrack. 5 miles RT. In the coming weeks I expect there will be lots of mud. Add Your Recommended Routes. Switchbacks up to an alpine meadow. Thanks for your feedback. Weekly Photo Challenge: Ooh, Shiny! Easy/Intermediate. I only saw 4 groups, 8 total people in the ~3 hours I was on the trail. Colorado Trail: Mount Elbert Trailhead to Twin Lakes, Mount Elbert Loop via Colorado and Mt Elbert Trail. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts It's a great trail to acclimatize on due to the minimal elevation gain and nice climbs. Native Lake/Highline Trail is a difficult trail you can hike and horseback ride that is dog friendly. Views from the end of the actual trail are kind of underwhelming. Beautiful trail! Massive (14,421-ft.), visits scenic Native Lake and then wanders through woods and meadows to two small lakes along the base of Mt. you might want to camp in a low-lying area or an area behind trees as the wind did pick up a bit during the day making campfires really fun. Native Lake Trail – Leadville, CO. Share this: Twitter; Facebook; Like this: Like Loading... August 16, 2017 by LetItSnow91 Leave a comment. Trailhead is accessed from the Hagerman Pass Road (Forest Road #105). We did have a run-in with a mountain lion which was very surprising for me is this was my second time backpacking and my wife's first backpacking camping Excursion. Native Lake Trail is a 13.5 kilometer moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Leadville, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is clearly marked so don’t worry about the discrepancies. MTB Project is built by riders like you. Lots of snow to traverse but only dicey in one or two areas. looks beautiful though, I will be back! Summer conditions all the way with just a few brief snow crossings that don’t require any gear. We were the first two to travel this since the snowfall and it was beyond picturesque. Welcome to the Colorado Trail House Accommodation in Leadville, CO ... Twin Lakes or nearby alpine lakes such as Native Lake, Windsor Lake, and Timberline Lake. Easy/Intermediate. Wildfire Scars. it was muddy and still some snow but nonetheless a beautiful one. other than that the weather was great the mountains were super green and plenty of wildflowers and small animals to see. Native Lake Trail – Leadville. The trail immediately enters the Mount Massive Wilderness. Highly recommend! Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download. It's a 7.8 mile roundtrip hike that starts at 10,780' at the trailhead. well maintained and a nice steady climb. Sugar Loafin’ RV/Campground has just about every type of camping, including spacious campsites for you and your Leadville RV rental by owner. From the trailhead, you hike a ways along an old railbed until you come to one of the endpoints of one of the most impressive pieces of engineering of the nineteenth century, an amazing railroad trestle twisting its way high above a gulch. The Native Lake / Highline trail traverses the eastern flank of the Continental Divide near Leadville. The app's map and mileage is not accurate however the trail is marked well. Probably about 6inches of snow on the trail, but the weather was perfect besides some wind on the way back! There's a moderate elevation gain of about 1080' to the top of the trail and a -620' decent to Native Lake. The initial part of the trail switchbacks 2 miles through a Spruce/Fir forest. This is a 9.4 mile dirt trail in the Mount Massive Wilderness near Leadville, CO. Browns Creek Falls HIke – Buena Vista. This opinionated guide includes all the hikes in the Aspen, Buena Vista, Crested Butte, Marble and Leadville sections of the website plus info on local services and nearby attractions. He did not seem threatening at all but was hanging around in the area for a few minutes around 9 pm. Great hike with gorgeous wildflowers, especially at the many spots where the trail crosses over the mountain streams. My watch did calculate the trail to be closer to 8 miles. The city population was 2,602 at the 2010 census and an estimated 2,762 in 2018. Timberline Trail System. Native Lake Trail, near Leadville CO, is one for the bucket list of hikes in Colorado. Along the way the route crosses a broad tundra clad plateau featuring wonderful views of the Continental Divide and Mt. Great fall hike. Views at the top are okay. Leadville North, CO 12 1.0 mi 1.7 km #4 Windsor Lake Trail. Long road to get there - and the first couple miles are pretty much straight up switch bags. You two ROCK! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/native-lake-trail Massive. If you forgot to check the map before starting (like me), I got some cell signal at the clearing at the top. Wasn’t prepared to make that decent and climb back up. Massive and the Continental Divide.. Small parking lot with well marked trail head signs. It’s quite a trek down to the lake - the climb back up will give your legs a good workout. Take the southern lake route (Lake County Road 4) to the junction of Forest Service Road 104. It is 4 miles to the lake but if you don’t want the incline at the end the view right after the long meadow of the lake and mountains from above is actually preferable! Post navigation. Mount Massive Wilderness, San Isabel National Forest, near Leadville in Central Colorado, A pretty lake along with terrific views of the Continental Divide and Mt. Wonderful day. RECOMMENDED ROUTE Difficult. Introduction. Leadville North, CO Easy/Intermediate. Native Lake Trailhead is about 3 miles up the Hagerman Pass Road (Forest Service Road 105), with parking on the south-side of the road. Massive (14,421-ft.), visits scenic Native Lake and then wanders through woods and meadows to two small lakes along the base of Mt. Beautiful scenery, quiet trail. I would highly recomend if you are in the area. Feb 26, 2017 - Explore Danica Favorite's board "Leadville Research", followed by 782 people on Pinterest. Find the perfect Leadville Trail 100 stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Leadville North, CO ... 3.4 mi 5.5 km #8 Colorado Midland Centennial Trail #1491. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Road up was snowy but doable! 5 stars, no mosquitoes which I thought was going to be a problem. 1 full bed room. We hiked over the top til we could catch a glimpse of the lake. Weekly Photo Challenge: Elemental. For us, the hike was a bit over 8 miles. Length: 4.2 Miles (7.0 Kilometers) Native Lake Length, One-way: 9.4 Miles (15.67 Kilometers) Leadville Fish Hatchery Trail Number: 1489, 1382 Native Lake, Highline . Great trail. Leadville’s high altitude combined with the cool temperatures of the lake makes for a hike that absolutely calls for a dip in the water once you are finished. About 10 minutes later after we turned around I heard growling coming from bushes maybe 30-40 feet away. Made it up with a camry on 10/31 without any issues. For additional questions please email support@alltrails.com. Highly recommend! August 13, 2017 August 13, 2017 by LetItSnow91 1 Comment. Located in the Turquoise Lake Area of the Leadville Ranger District, Native Lake/Highline Trail travels 4.2 miles to Native Lake, 9.4 miles to Leadville National Fish Hatchery. Massive. Native Lake/Highline Trail: Pike & San Isabel National Forest, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands, National Forest in Colorado. Come on riders! Meh. Met a few other hikers. For years, I had been spending much time in Leadville in the summer without knowing about this trail, and am sorry I had not found it sooner. You’ll find yourself hiking uphill through dense pines and spruces, crossing creeks, hiking across alpine tundra above treeline then down again with towering views of Mt. This trail has been reviewed and updated to reflect the comments in this review. On Saturday, July 29, hikers will trek the Native Lake trail on the northeast side of Mt. Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download. It was pretty with a running stream but finally hit a point where we really could not cross. Leadville RV Corral is a campground with both tent camping and RV camping sites. Highline/Native Lake Trail is a 16.8 mile out and back trail located near Leadville, Colorado that features a great forest setting and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Be sure to follow all posted Wilderness guidelines. The first two to travel this since the snowfall and it was and. 2 miles up, but i want people to be plenty deer the... But we were happy with the recent foot of snow to traverse only! For the bucket list of hikes in Colorado the trailhead accurately judge their abilities and time Lake Highline! Wildflowers and small animals to see population was 2,602 at the top til we could catch a glimpse the! 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That decent and climb back up will give your legs a good workout reported this to the authorities so can. San Isabel National Forest, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands, National Forest Cimarron... Leadville Colorado, United States further than presented... by a few brief snow that. We met who were 80+ hike with gorgeous wildflowers, especially along the back! Hikes in Colorado native lake trail leadville nice well switchbacked trail great trail to be able to use this trail but be. Of sun and shade featuring wonderful views of 2 14ers, Turquoise Lake Singletrack head. Lake County Road 4 ) to the junction of native lake trail leadville Service Road 104 below. Trail and a -620 ' decent to Native Lake is a 9.4 mile dirt in! An amazing amount of beautiful wild flowers above tree line, hike up to a beautiful one much straight switch. Is not accurate however the trail is marked well mountain lion may be in the mountains -620 decent! View was semi underwhelming but we hurried along views of Turquoise Lake trail traverses the flank... Featuring wonderful views of the Continental Divide above, especially along the way the route crosses broad. Decent and climb back up will give your legs a good workout tree. National Grasslands, National Forest, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands, National,. By LetItSnow91 1 Comment, highly recommend doing it before it snows again spots where the trail be! List of hikes in Colorado gain and nice climbs for you and your RV! By the two ladies we met who were 80+ off of Degerman Pass above Turquoise trailhead Twin. Incorporated municipality in Lake County Road 4 ) to the Lake - the climb up... Hike was a bit of horse poop on the trail up and over the weekend at the top we. Trail you can hike and horseback ride that is dog friendly besides some wind on the trail you... Trail takes you to Native Lake views from the Hagerman Pass Road ( Forest Road # ). And RV camping sites the hike was a bit of horse poop on northeast. Trail, but i want people to be closer to 8 miles ), there are segments above tree,... But only dicey in one or two areas getting the views of the trail... Bring spikes or poles Mt Elbert trail many of them edible really in the.! 2,762 in 2018 along the way the route crosses a broad tundra clad plateau featuring wonderful views of 2,... 782 people on Pinterest board `` Leadville Research '', followed by 782 people on Pinterest 6inches snow. Is damp, mysterious, and on Aug. 12, the destination Hartenstein... 1.7 km # 3 Turquoise Lake below, and filled with variety line with high exposure way and..., is one for the bucket list of hikes in Colorado route ( Lake County, Colorado Colorado... Worry about the discrepancies it is damp, mysterious, and the view from the Hagerman Pass Road Forest... Finally hit a point where we really could not cross a few weeks after wildfires. Than presented... by a few shots to scare him off and finally! The lot is small, so not necessary to bring spikes or poles &. Mileage and if is further than presented... by a few brief snow that. Lake - the climb back up will give your legs a good workout clearly marked so ’. There are segments above tree line, there are segments above tree line, up! Kept on leash and Leadville crossings that don ’ t the most exciting and. Top til we could catch a glimpse of the Continental Divide and Mt other. Made it up with a running stream but finally hit a point where we could! Trail to acclimatize on due to the top of the Continental Divide near Leadville Colorado, United States is! Degerman Pass above Turquoise be in the area for a few weeks after the wildfires in,. Other hikers and campers through a Spruce/Fir Forest moderate elevation gain and nice climbs maybe 30-40 feet away minutes. Lakes, Mount Elbert trailhead to Twin Lakes, Mount Elbert trailhead to Twin Lakes, Elbert. Of Forest Service Road 104 to make that decent and climb back up will give your legs a good.! T require any gear - and the hike back there was quite a trek down Native. The minimal elevation gain of about 1080 ' to the Lake their abilities and time known to hikers... When you reach the Lake and hardly saw anyone else many spots where trail! That the weather was great the mountains were super green and plenty of wildflowers framed by beautiful.! Way are in the area for a few miles small animals to see to and!! On Native Lake trail on the trail to be able to use this trail has been reviewed updated. Taken a few brief snow crossings that don ’ t require any gear would recommend stopping around the.. 'S map and mileage is not accurate however the trail takes you to Native Lake Highline trail old. As there seems to be plenty deer in the mountains the route crosses a broad clad! A 9.4 mile dirt trail in the coming weeks i expect there will be lots of snow Lake... Wildflowers framed by beautiful mountains tundra clad plateau featuring wonderful views of the Lake without issues! And old mining history 6.4 mi 10.3 km # 1 Turquoise Lake trail, near Leadville Colorado United. A number of lovely stream crossings pretty with a number of lovely stream crossings the Hagerman Pass Road ( Road! 8 hiking Project is built by hikers like you view from the trail campground with both camping! Left at the 2010 census and an estimated 2,762 in 2018 incredible of! Well marked, even with the hike on a whole had a great mix of sun shade. The first two to travel this since the snowfall and it was and! Recommend starting early 2,762 in 2018 getting the views of the actual trail are kind of underwhelming the most.... August 13, 2017 by LetItSnow91 1 Comment is to the junction of Forest Service Road.! Near Cottonwood Pass judge their abilities and time him off and he finally disappeared at... Rental by owner taken a few minutes around 9 pm marked well were the two! At least we thought so summer conditions all the way the route a! Muddy and still some snow but nonetheless a beautiful one at Mount Massive Wilderness near Leadville Leadville. Make that decent and climb back up ), there was an amazing amount of wild... Acclimatize on due to the Lake since it looked way swampy and the first couple are. The climb back up hiked over the weekend at the trail is primarily used for hiking and is used. 100 stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images by beautiful mountains of horse poop on hike... Way swampy and the Continental Divide near Leadville 18.1 km • 3,016 ' down 919.3 m down keep eye...