AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Blue Lake–Mitchell Lake, 9 sights

10.3 mi · ▲ 1,408 ft · 4 hr 8 min

Blue Lake–Mitchell Lake, 9 sights is a 10.3-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Red Rock Lake, Mitchell Lake and Blue Lake. It climbs 1,408 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 77/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi10,122 – 11,457 ft10.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Rock Lake Spur Trail 40.08276, -105.54130
Nearest town Ward, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Blue Lake–Mitchell Lake, 9 sights

10.3 mi · ▲ 1,408 ft · 4 hr 8 min

Elevation 10,122–11,459 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Red Rock Lake Spur Trail · 40.08276, -105.54130

Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 71°F / low 49° · precip 22% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Red Rock Lake Spur Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Red Rock Lake.
  3. 500 ftSharp left onto Waldrop Trail, heading SW.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 1.4 miBear left onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miBear left onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading NW.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trail, heading NW.
  10. 0.8 miPass Mitchell Lake.
  11. 1.4 miPass Blue Lake.
  12. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Little Blue Lake Route, heading NW.
  14. 0.4 miReach Blue Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trail, heading E.
  17. 2.3 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading NE.
  20. 50 ftBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading NE.
  21. 0.2 miBear right onto Waldrop Trail, heading SE.
  22. 1.4 miBear left, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miSharp right onto Red Rock Lake Spur Trail, heading E.
  24. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/blue-lake-blue-lake-out-back-12-sights

Trail surface

91% dirt9% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 71°F49°
Precip22%Wind12 mphUV8Humidity47%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
75°45° 3 PM: 3% rain4 PM: 8% rain5 PM: 11% rain6 PM: 22% rain7 PM: 11% rain8 PM: 10% rain9 PM: 20% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 69°49°
Sun 73°51° 53%
Mon 66°48° 40%
Tue 69°44° 30%
Wed 69°46° 35%
Thu 71°47° 40%

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Red Rock Lake Spur Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ward, Colorado