AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 1,973 ft · 5 hr 27 min

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights is a 13.4-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Hidden Lake, CO. The route reaches Mitchell Lake at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 1,973 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi8,747 – 10,739 ft · steepest grade: 18%13.7 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

Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, 6 sights

13.4 mi · ▲ 1,973 ft · 5 hr 27 min

Elevation 8,746–10,739 ft

Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: South Saint Vrain Trail · 40.10553, -105.48802

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

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. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading W.
  10. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.8 miReach Mitchell Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail, heading SE.
  13. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.5 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 E.
  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/mitchell-lake-mitchell-lake-out-back-9-sights-22-km-3c5d

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:31 PM

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash

More from South Saint Vrain Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Hidden Lake, Colorado