Chicago Lakes is a popular hiking trail in the Mount Evans Wilderness that has two magnificent lakes with stellar views towards the foothills and of Mount Evans. Add Your Photos. Evans Scenic Byway. Mt. The trail follows an old logging road about 4 miles to an intersection with the Rosalie trail. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. of Trail. Some precip was on the way! She also mentioned something along the lines of how she thought the guy had the map. Use is moderate to heavy for the first 5 miles. As the Shakers said ". The trail is still open, but you must factor in the extra distance along the road. From the Camp Rock Campground, the trail travels along a Bear Creek for about a mile. There really is no destination for this hike, about 2.5 miles in the trail disperses and you must choose your own adventure. Chicago Lakes in Mount Evans Wilderness. Evans Scenic Byway ascends a non-wilderness corridor into the center of the Wilderness. Visitors can find bighorn sheep, elk, and mountain goats roaming around the mountainsides. Mount Evans Wilderness was designated by the United States Congress in 1980 and now spans 74,401 acres. Originally, I wanted to reach the summit of nearby 13er Rosalie Peak but ended up taking the Rosalie Trail further out into the wilderness instead. Talus vs. Scree - What is the difference? The Rosalie Trail follows Deer Creek up to the saddle between Rosalie and Logan and ends at Guanella Pass. It's possible to be fishing less than an hour after Evans, Harris Park: 636: Tanglewood: 4.0: Harris Park (distance to saddle E of Rosalie Park: 635: Three Mile Creek: 6.5: Mt. Sitting on the pass and basking in the warm sun I was as content as any time I've been in my life. The Chicago Lakes hike begins at Echo Lake. But the entire Mt. The elevation gain, together with the round trip distance of almost 17 miles makes this a strenuous day hike. One of the closest wilderness areas you can explore from Denver is the Mount Evans Wilderness. Disclosure: This website may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products to which I link. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Filmed in early August of 2020. The trail starts off steep, dropping into a valley before running flat, then climbing steeply up again. The Mount Evans hike starts at Summit Lake, which is the highest lake in Colorado at 3912m above sea level. Evans Want to take in some of Colorado’s breathtaking scenery and put some miles under your hiking boots? This wilderness contains two popular fourteneers - Mt. National Parks are allowed to set their own rules regarding roads and access, unlike wilderness areas. Park a car on SH 103 at the road to Idaho Springs Reservoir. … It is named for Rosalie Bierstadt, wife of the famous painter of Western landscapes, Alfred Bierstadt. COVID changed many of our ou, @ramblinghemlock and I enjoy the local hikes in wi, Keeping it local at the "Dinosaur Stomping Grounds, I never get tired of our front yard view. The Chicago Lakes trail goes from the Echo Lake trailhead to Summit Lake. #hiking #u, Winter makes an excellent time to see some well-kn, The Annual Top Ten Tchotchke Guide from there the trail climbs more steeply into the upper part of the valley. We had it all to ourselves. GETTING THERE The Mount Evans Scenic Camp at least 100' away from any lake, stream, trail or road. It’s good for all of the common recreational activities found in wilderness areas. There really is no destination for this hike, about 2.5 miles in the trail disperses and you must choose your own adventure. Both are great climbs for daring climbers and mountaineers. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Abyss Lake via Guanella Pass & Rosalie Trail. Hiking in Mount Evans Wilderness There are 54 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado and Mount Evans is one of them. As we went lower, the snow dissipated. Logan: 602: Abyss Lake: 8.0: Mt. She overheard the dude ask where the mountain was as she was walking up. Luckily the rain and graupel stopped about the time we were ready to make camp. Note: The road to the trailhead is closed after Labor Day. Idaho Springs, Colorado boasts many popular hiking destinations such as Echo Lake, 14er Mount Evans, and our exercise for the day, the Chicago Lakes Trail. From the lake, it was a steep climb through burnt out terrain. .... Evans, Mt. Chicago Lakes Hike Near Mt. I should mention it was fairly warm and not very windy. Meadows attract wildlife such as mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and more. After the comic interlude, we packed up out gear and made our way down the pass. The most challenging part of this hike is the altitude and last 50 … Colorado 14ers: Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia. The road, two 14,000 foot peaks (14,264' Mt. Founded in November 2005, FOMELC provides cooperative stewardship support to the United States Forest Service. #5 - Mount Evans West Ridge via Chicago Creek. Evans: 53: Hell's Hole: 3.5: Georgetown: 52: Chicago Lakes: 4.5: Idaho Springs, Mt. Recovering burn area is full of wildflower meadows. This past weekend, I joined my good friends Wendy and d-low for a fairly easy backpacking trip in the Mt. Albeit small, the wilderness area receives significant visitor numbers due to the Mt. A brief, but rewarding, pit stop was had as the two Roosevelt Lakes. Once past the burn line and to the top of the climb, the trail gently descended to the edge of the wilderness boundary and in a lush pine forest. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. It’s good for all of the common recreational activities found in wilderness areas. On crossing the creek, it climbs through the 485 acre Beartracks Fire (1998). This past weekend, I joined my good friends Wendy and d-low for a fairly easy backpacking trip in the Mt. The Mount Evans Wilderness Area (WA) is only a few miles from Denver. I grabbed my book, ran over and killed time with some hot joe and a slice of hot apple pie. Eventually we entered more open terrain…and saw the increasingly dark clouds, felt the wind pick up and felt the pressure drop. Chicago Lakes is a popular hiking trail in the Mount Evans Wilderness that has two magnificent lakes with stellar views towards the foothills and of Mount Evans. But Abbey was ranting about National Parks , not Wilderness Areas, which, by legal definition, ought to be road less (per the Wilderness Act of 1964). The most challenging part of this hike is the altitude and last 50 vertical feet to the summit on rocky terrain. Wendy spotted a grove of aspens across the creek. While the Mt. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. He also neglected to remove the balaclava from his mouth as he was talking. The warmth, the easy tread and the subtle scenery made the miles go by. 28. Please note that this road closes 1.5 miles (one-way) short of this trailhead in the winter. From an unnamed lake at timberline, the trail continues through the willows, then westerly across the tundra to the lake. #moab, Keeping it very local this weekend. A little while later, Wendy and d-low made it to the pass. The closure is at the intersection with Naylor Lake Road. One of my favorite things about hiking the Mount Evans Wilderness is getting there: the drive from Evergreen to Echo Lake along Hwy. Shortly after my pie and three cups (yes) of coffee finished, the storm stopped, the sun came out and the skies turned blue. There are 21 hard trails in Mount Evans Wilderness ranging from 2.3 to 17.8 miles and from 8,904 to 14,255 feet above sea level. Some people use this trail to access Grey Wolf Mountain as the trail basically leads to the base of Grey Wolf. Shortly before we packed it up, a couple (maybe?) After hiking in the open meadow for a bit, we quickly entered a trail lined with aspens. Mount Evans Wilderness area includes two 14,000-foot peaks (14,264' Mt. Summit Lake sits in a cirque beside the paved road leading to the top of Evans. She said "I thought you knew where you were going?" It should be noted, however, that the wilderness experiences heavy … So reserve a long weekend to climb both in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, and decide for yourself. Together, we continued to enjoy the view, the warm sun, the simple feeling of basking in the mountains surrounding us. On a warm and sunny day in late August, I set out for another hike into the Mount Evans Wilderness. Wilderness (Backpacking) Reservations. Evans makes up in breathtaking panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and opportunities to view wildlife up close. More information here: https://cpw.state.co.us/swa/Mount%20Evans%20SWA Dispersed backcountry camping is permitted on the Beartrack Lakes Trail and within the Mt Evans Wilderness. Bierstadt), and the close proximity to Denver have contributed to very heavy use. Originally, Mount Evans was named Mount Rosalie, but when the Colorado legislature renamed that summit for the second territori… The temporarily closed highway, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, is the only road that bisects the 74,400 acre Mount Evans Wilderness Area, designated as federal wilderness in 1980. The Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness (FOMELC) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Hikers must take Guanella Pass Road to reach this trailhead. Evans is a funny experience. We continued down the north facing side of the pass with its attendant snow. Mount Evans is located in Front Range of Colorado, within the Mount Evans Wilderness. Mount Evans Wilderness is located approximately 40 miles west of Denver, Colorado. Long story short, I offered to show them the route on the map. The lake is nestled in a high glacial cirque between Mt. Closures include Echo Lake and Summit Lake at Mount Evans, Hicks Mountain, Pence Mountain, Mount Judge, Snyder Mountain, Forsberg Park … Closures include Echo Lake and Summit Lake at Mount Evans, Hicks Mountain, Pence Mountain, Mount Judge, Snyder Mountain, Forsberg Park and the Beaver Brook Trail at … Fishing is popular at Mount Evans: Summit Lake - Stocked in previous years, but now to believed to be void of trout due to short ice free season and a lack of oxygen and food. 0.6 mi). Route Description for Mount Evans. Waterproof, tear-resistant topographic hiking map covering all of the hiking trails in the Mount Evans Wilderness area of the Colorado Front Range and the surrounding areas. The Guanella Pass road in Grant, Colorado hugs the Wilderness on it’s Western border, giving a portal to another popular 14,000 foot mountain, Mount Bierstadt. Evans. You will enjoy stunning vistas before you ever leave the car. The woman shooed the guy away and she sad "I trust the guy with the map more than you!" The elevation gain, together with the round trip distance of almost 17 miles makes this a strenuous day hike. Posted onJune 13, 2009June 18, 2017AuthorPaul MagsLeave a comment. This popular trail climbs the ridge between Truesdell Creek and Beartracks Creek to Lower Beartrack Lake. Evans SWA is closed from January 1 through June 14. From the time you leave Summit Lake until you reach Evans, you get a true wilderness experience. You’ll pass three more mountain lakes as you punch up into the high country of … Evans (14,264 feet) and Mt. So reserve a long weekend to climb both in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, and decide for yourself. Mt. Chicago Lakes - 9.8 Miles Round-Trip The Chicago Lakes are accessed from Echo Lake, 13.25 miles south of I-70 (Idaho Springs) in the Mt Evans Wilderness Area. On this June day, the trailhead just up the road for this peak was crowded. Bierstadt and Mt. One of the closest wilderness areas you can explore from Denver is the Mount Evans Wilderness. Originally, Mount Evans was named Mount Rosalie, but when the Colorado legislature renamed that summit for the second territorial govern… The trail is slightly overgrown in some places so make sure you keep an eye on your gps. 28. The planned trip was to drop my vehicle at Echo Lake at the base of the Mt. These sites include Amazon, eBay, REI, Backcountry.com, LA Police Gear, Moose Jaw, Gaia GPS, Six Moon Designs, and ULA Equipment. The sun slowly set, the creek babbled on and a slight wind flowed through the trees. The Mount Evans Wilderness Topographic Hiking Map is a waterproof, tear-resistant map covering all hiking trails in the Mount Evans Wilderness of the central Front Range of Colorado and surroundings with a 1:40,000 scale (1 in appox. Why it Made the List: … That being said, the hike up from Summit Lake is nothing short of spectacular. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Deer and elk inhabit the sub-alpine areas. Some people use this trail to access Grey Wolf Mountain as the trail basically leads to the base of Grey Wolf. Receive an email notification of new posts direct to your inbox once a week. Wildlife is also abundant in the Mount Evans Wilderness. You can still hike the road for about four miles to the TH. The Mount Evans hike starts at Summit Lake, which is the highest lake in Colorado at 3912m above sea level. From I-70, exit #240 and head south on HWY 103 (toward Mt Evans) for 13 miles to Echo Lake. Road trip and car camping – gear and techniques, Winter trip reports, gear overviews, tips, and techniques, The Frugal Backpacker - The $300 Gear Challenge, A Quick and Dirty Guide to The Pacific Crest Trail, A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Appalachian Trail. Rosalie Peak, the 207th highest peak in Colorado, is the southernmost thirteener in the Mount Evans Wilderness. Evans wilderness. We do not think these two will be going on any further hiking trips together. The Mount Evans Wilderness features two fourteener mountains: Mount Evans, which stands at 14,264 feet, and Mount Bierstadt at 14,060 feet. Colorado 14ers: Mount Harvard and Mount Columbia. So, why is there a road in the Mount Evans Wilderness? Containing 74 thousand acres, the Mt. Expect to encounter many other hikers on summer weekends. Evans and 14,060' Mt. A clearing, big firepit, well placed logs and plenty of places to pitch a tent. Wildlife is also abundant in the Mount Evans Wilderness. The trailhead is just past or right before the campground as is the TH for Abyss lake. The terrain is easy to navigate and seasoned hikers won’t fine this to be challenging. The Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wilderness (FOMELC) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. We offer volunteer opportunities for all ages, physical abilities, interests and schedules. The following morning, I took off by myself and powered up to the officially unnamed pass below the impressive looking Rosalie Mountain. We had a brief comedy interlude as well. After some car shuffling, we started our jaunt from the Abyss Trail Head with a striking view of the 14k ft+ Bierstadt. Round-Trip Length: 11.57 miles Start Elevation: 10,624’ High Point: 11,826’ Elevation Change: 1,999’ Skill Level: Moderate-Strenuous Trailhead Location: The Chicago Lakes Trail begins at Echo Lake (west side), 13.25 miles south of I-70 on HWY 103. 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