Indian Peaks from Brainard Lake Campground - panoramio.jpg
jonathan c. wheeler · CC BY-SA 3.0

Isabelle Glacier–Lake Isabelle, 8 sights is a 10.5-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, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,996 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 83/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi10,322 – 12,271 ft · steepest grade: 36%11.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Pawnee Campground Loop B - Tent Camp 40.08049, -105.56728
Nearest town Ward, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Isabelle Glacier–Lake Isabelle, 8 sights

10.5 mi · ▲ 1,996 ft · 4 hr 30 min

Elevation 10,323–12,270 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Pawnee Campground Loop B - Tent Camp · 40.08049, -105.56728

Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 70°F / low 48° · precip 24% · wind 12 mph · 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 Pawnee Campground Loop B - Tent Camp, heading W.
  2. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Summer Snowshoe, heading SW.
  6. 0.2 miPass Brainard Lake.
  7. 150 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  8. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  9. 50 ftBear left, heading W.
  10. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  11. 0.3 miBear right onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading W.
  12. 0.5 miPass Long Lake.
  13. 150 ftBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading SW.
  14. 450 ftBear left onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading W.
  15. 1.7 miPass Lake Isabelle.
  16. 350 ftContinue straight onto Isabell Glacier Trail, heading NW.
  17. 2.3 miReach Isabelle Glacier, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 2.2 miBear left, heading E.
  19. 300 ftContinue straight onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading E.
  20. 1.8 miBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading NE.
  21. 450 ftBear left onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading E.
  22. 0.6 miBear left, heading E.
  23. 0.3 miBear left, heading NE.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  25. 50 ftBear right, heading E.
  26. 200 ftSharp left onto Summer Snowshoe, heading E.
  27. 0.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  28. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  31. 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 surface

98% dirt2% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 70°F48°
Precip24%Wind12 mphUV8Humidity47%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
70°45° 3 PM: 3% rain4 PM: 9% rain5 PM: 11% rain6 PM: 24% rain7 PM: 11% rain8 PM: 12% rain9 PM: 21% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 68°48°
Sun 72°51° 52%
Mon 65°48° 40%
Tue 68°44° 29%
Wed 69°46° 35%
Thu 70°47° 40%

Good to know

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

More from Pawnee Campground Loop B - Tent Camp Trailhead