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

Red Rock Lake–Brainard Lake Loop, 7 sights

6.5 mi · ▲ 721 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Red Rock Lake–Brainard Lake Loop, 7 sights is a 6.5-mile loop in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Red Rock Lake and Brainard Lake. It climbs 721 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi9,682 – 10,371 ft6.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Rock Lake Spur Trail 40.08276, -105.54130
Nearest town Ward, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Red Rock Lake–Brainard Lake Loop, 7 sights

6.5 mi · ▲ 721 ft · 2 hr 32 min

Elevation 9,683–10,372 ft

Loop · Indian Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Red Rock Lake Spur Trail · 40.08276, -105.54130

Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 71°F / low 49° · precip 22% · wind 12 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:31 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Red Rock Lake Spur Trail, heading N.
  2. 50 ftPass Red Rock Lake.
  3. 500 ftSharp left onto Waldrop Trail, heading SW.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading SW.
  5. 0.8 miBear left onto Summer Snowshoe, heading SW.
  6. 0.7 miBear right, heading SW.
  7. 0.2 miPass Brainard Lake.
  8. 150 ftSharp right, heading W.
  9. 200 ftSharp left onto Brainard Lake Road, heading W.
  10. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  11. 50 ftSharp left onto Brainard Lake O/l, heading W.
  12. 200 ftTurn left, heading W.
  13. 100 ftTurn left, heading W.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Brainard Lake Road, heading SE.
  15. 150 ftBear right onto Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.5 miBear right onto South Saint Vrain Trail, heading N.
  17. 0.2 miBear left onto South Saint Vrain, heading NE.
  18. 1.9 miBear right onto Sourdough Trail, heading E.
  19. 1.1 miTurn left onto Waldrop Trail, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn right onto Sourdough Trail, heading S.
  21. 50 ftContinue straight onto Waldrop Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.6 miTurn left onto Red Rock Lake Spur Trail, heading NE.
  23. 100 ftThe loop closes 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/red-rock-lake-loop

Trail surface

94% dirt4% paved2% unspecified

Weather

RainTemperature 71°F49°
Precip22%Wind12 mphUV8Humidity47%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperatureRain chance
75°45° 3 PM: 3% rain4 PM: 8% rain5 PM: 11% rain6 PM: 22% rain7 PM: 11% rain8 PM: 10% rain9 PM: 20% rain10 PM: 2% rain11 PM: 2% rain
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:31 PM
Sat 69°49°
Sun 73°51° 53%
Mon 66°48° 40%
Tue 69°44° 30%
Wed 69°46° 35%
Thu 71°47° 40%

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Red Rock Lake Spur Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Ward, Colorado