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

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake, 6 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 426 ft · 1 hr 31 min

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake, 6 sights is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Brainard Lake before reaching Mitchell Lake at the turnaround, 1.9 miles in. It climbs 426 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 53/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi10,322 – 10,739 ft4.3 mi

Getting there

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

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake, 6 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 426 ft · 1 hr 31 min

Elevation 10,323–10,739 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

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

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 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 ftTurn right onto Brainard Lake Road, heading W.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading SW.
  10. 300 ftTurn left onto CMC Brainard Snowshoe trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miBear left onto CMC Cabin Cutoff, heading SW.
  12. 250 ftTurn right onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading W.
  13. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trail, heading W.
  14. 0.8 miReach Mitchell Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.3 miTurn left onto CMC Cabin Cutoff, heading SE.
  17. 250 ftBear right onto CMC Brainard Snowshoe trail, heading E.
  18. 0.4 miTurn right onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading E.
  19. 300 ftBear left onto Brainard Lake Road, heading NE.
  20. 150 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  21. 200 ftSharp left onto Summer Snowshoe, heading S.
  22. 0.2 miTurn right, heading S.
  23. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  24. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  25. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  26. 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/mitchell-lake-mitchell-lake-out-back-8-sights-6-km-2e4e

Trail surface

93% dirt3% paved4% unspecified

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 Pawnee Campground Loop B - Tent Camp Trailhead

Hikes near Ward, Colorado