Mirror Lake Trail & Peterson Lake Trail via Big South Trail
12.2 mi · ▲ 2,639 ft · 5 hr 23 min
Mirror Lake Trail & Peterson Lake Trail via Big South Trail is a 12.2-mile out-and-back in Comanche Peak Wilderness near Spencer Heights, CO. It climbs 2,639 ft, with sections as steep as 23% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mirror Lake Trail & Peterson Lake Trail via Big South Trail
12.2 mi · ▲ 2,639 ft · 5 hr 23 min
Elevation 9,303–11,439 ft
Out & Back · Comanche Peak Wilderness
Trailhead: Peterson Lake Road · 40.55290, -105.78078
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 74°F / low 45° · precip 1% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Peterson Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Big South Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Flowers Trail, heading E.
- 2.9 miTurn right onto Mirror Lake Trail, heading S.
- 2.1 miReach Peterson Lake Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.1 miTurn left onto Flowers Trail, heading SW.
- 2.9 miSharp left onto Big South Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Peterson Lake Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miArrive 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
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.4 mi in (~130 min). Leave by 5:02 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Peterson Lake Road Trailhead
- Peterson Lake Trail via Big South Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 287 ft
- Corral Creek Trail & Peterson Lake Trail via Big South Trail 9.1 mi · ▲ 887 ft
- Big South Trail & Peterson Lake Trail 10.9 mi · ▲ 1,051 ft
- Beaver Creek Trail–Flowers Trail, 3 sights 12.3 mi · ▲ 2,596 ft
- Cascade Creek–Mirror Lake Trail, 4 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 1,900 ft
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