Shoshoni Peak–Lake Isabelle, 8 sights is a 12.1-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Ward, CO. The route passes Brainard Lake, Long Lake, Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass before reaching Shoshoni Peak at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 2,857 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 86/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
0 mi10,348 – 12,957 ft · steepest grade: 29%12.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Pawnee Campground Loop C 40.07862, -105.56928
Nearest town Ward, CO
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Shoshoni Peak–Lake Isabelle, 8 sights
12.1 mi · ▲ 2,857 ft · 5 hr 28 min
Elevation 10,348–12,956 ft
Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness
Trailhead: Pawnee Campground Loop C · 40.07862, -105.56928
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
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.1 miPass Brainard Lake.
- 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading W.
- 0.6 miPass Long Lake.
- 100 ftBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftBear left onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 1.7 miPass Lake Isabelle.
- 2.4 miPass Pawnee Pass.
- 450 ftTurn left onto Shoshoni Summit Route, heading W.
- 0.8 miReach Shoshoni Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Pawnee Pass Trail, heading N.
- 4.2 miBear right onto Jean Lunning Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftBear left onto Niwot Cutoff Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 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% paved
Weather
Sunrise 6:34 AMSunset 7:31 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.4 mi in (~196 min). Leave by 3:55 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:56 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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 C Trailhead
- Long Lake–Brainard Lake, 3 lakes 2.1 mi · ▲ 194 ft
- Long Lake–Brainard Lake Loop, 9 sights 3.7 mi · ▲ 423 ft
- Mitchell Lake–Brainard Lake, 6 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 426 ft
- Red Rock Lake–Brainard Lake, 3 lakes 4 mi · ▲ 285 ft
- Blue Lake–Mitchell Lake, 7 sights 6.5 mi · ▲ 1,029 ft
- James Basin Road–South Saint Vrain Trail, 4 sights 9.6 mi · ▲ 1,201 ft
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Hikes near Ward, Colorado