AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights

11.7 mi · ▲ 1,801 ft · 4 hr 48 min

Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights is an 11.7-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Hidden Lake, CO. The route reaches Brainard Lake at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It climbs 1,801 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 45/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi8,747 – 10,463 ft11.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: South Saint Vrain Trail 40.10553, -105.48802
Nearest town Hidden Lake, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Brainard Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights

11.7 mi · ▲ 1,801 ft · 4 hr 48 min

Elevation 8,746–10,465 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: South Saint Vrain Trail · 40.10553, -105.48802

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Bikes allowed on the whole route · Dogs allowed on leash

  1. Start on South Saint Vrain Trail, heading S.
  2. 2 miContinue straight onto James Basin Road, heading SW.
  3. 0.5 miTurn right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.6 miBear left onto Sourdough Trail, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto South Saint Vrain, heading SW.
  6. 1.9 miBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miBear left onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.4 miContinue straight onto CMC Cabin Cutoff, heading SW.
  10. 0.2 miSharp left onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading SW.
  11. 450 ftReach Brainard Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 400 ftSharp right onto CMC Cabin Cutoff, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading E.
  14. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading E.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.2 miBear left onto South Saint Vrain, heading E.
  17. 1.9 miTurn left onto Sourdough Trail, heading E.
  18. 50 ftBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading E.
  19. 0.6 miTurn left onto James Basin Road, heading E.
  20. 0.5 miContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading NE.
  21. 2 miArrive 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/brainard-lake-brainard-lake-cutoff-trail-out-back-8-sights-19-km

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:31 PM

Good to know

  • Bikes allowed on the whole route
  • Dogs allowed on leash

More from South Saint Vrain Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Hidden Lake, Colorado