Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 5 sights
16.1 mi · ▲ 1,926 ft · 6 hr 20 min
Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 5 sights is a 16.1-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Peaceful Valley, CO. The route reaches Brainard Lake at the turnaround, 8.1 miles in. It climbs 1,926 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 60/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 5 sights
16.1 mi · ▲ 1,926 ft · 6 hr 20 min
Elevation 8,654–10,348 ft
Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness
Trailhead: County Road 92J · 40.12999, -105.52421
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 77°F / low 55° · precip 18% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on County Road 92J, heading W.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Middle Saint Vrain Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Sourdough Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Middle Saint Vrain Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Sourdough Trail, heading S.
- 2.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Beaver Bog, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Sourdough Trail, heading SW.
- 2.1 miTurn right onto South Saint Vrain, heading S.
- 1.9 miBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading W.
- 0.5 miReach Brainard Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading N.
- 0.2 miBear left onto South Saint Vrain, heading E.
- 1.9 miTurn left onto Sourdough Trail, heading E.
- 2.5 miTurn right onto Beaver Bog, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Sourdough Trail, heading E.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Middle Saint Vrain Trail, heading NE.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Sourdough Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Middle Saint Vrain Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto County Road 92J, heading W.
- 100 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from County Road 92J Trailhead
- Sourdough Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 309 ft
- Middle Saint Vrain Trail via Sourdough Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 231 ft
- Beaver Bog via Sourdough Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,071 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,084 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 1,379 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 1,192 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Peaceful Valley, emailed to you once a week.
Hikes near Peaceful Valley, Colorado