AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Brainard lake (Colorado).JPG
Wildoo78 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Indian Peaks Wilderness

Isabelle Glacier–Lake Isabelle, 7 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 1,932 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Isabelle Glacier–Lake Isabelle, 7 sights is a 10.2-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Brainard Lake, Long Lake and Lake Isabelle before reaching Isabelle Glacier at the turnaround, 5.1 miles in. It climbs 1,932 ft, with sections as steep as 33% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 85/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi10,348 – 12,271 ft · steepest grade: 33%10.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Brainard Lake O/l 40.07762, -105.57058
Nearest town Ward, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Isabelle Glacier–Lake Isabelle, 7 sights

10.2 mi · ▲ 1,932 ft · 4 hr 22 min

Elevation 10,350–12,270 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Brainard Lake O/l · 40.07762, -105.57058

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Brainard Lake O/l, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftPass Brainard Lake.
  4. 100 ftContinue straight onto Brainard Lake Road, heading NW.
  5. 250 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  7. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  8. 0.3 miBear right onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading W.
  9. 0.6 miBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftPass Long Lake.
  11. 450 ftBear left onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading NW.
  12. 1.8 miPass Lake Isabelle.
  13. 250 ftContinue straight onto Isabell Glacier Trail, heading W.
  14. 2.3 miReach Isabelle Glacier, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 2.2 miBear left, heading E.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading E.
  17. 1.8 miBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading NE.
  18. 450 ftBear left onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading NE.
  19. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  20. 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
  21. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Brainard Lake Road, heading E.
  23. 450 ftBear right onto Brainard Lake O/l, 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/isabelle-glacier-isabelle-glacier-out-back-10-lakes

Trail surface

99% dirt1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:31 PM

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Brainard Lake O/l Trailhead

Hikes near Ward, Colorado