Hot and Humid Summer... Nothing like visiting a remote alpine lake.



The Lost Lake, Indian Peaks Wilderness Area

Eldora and Nederland, Colorado
June 23, 2012

Lost Lake is accessible from the Hessie Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area.
This short, family-friendly hike is highlighted by aspen groves, wildflowers, streams, waterfalls,
and a dramatic alpine backdrop. Round-Trip Length:2.7 miles. +791' total roundtrip elevation gain.
Visitors will enjoy easy shore access, good fishing, and numerous backcountry campsites at Lost Lake.

From Peak to Peak Highway (CO 119 and 72, come either from Boulder or Central City),
near the south end of Nederland, turn north to smaller Eldora Road (Co Hwy 130), and stay on Co-130
to the right, pass the town of Eldora, and continue on to Hessie Road (Co Hwy 130), then into Hessie Road
to the left (right is Co Hwy 111, "4th of July Road"), and then go as far as you can to the Hessie Trailhead.
This is about 4.8 miles. The last part of the Hessie Road was under water but it was drivable then.

The trail begins (Start-End Elevation: 9,009') on a steep dirt road lined with aspens and wildflowers, merging with the South Fork of Middle Boulder Creek at the King Lake - Devils Thumb Bypass Trail split (.85 miles : 9,455'). Bear left over the creek toward Lost Lake. The trail closely follows the creek .25 miles to the Lost Lake Trail split (1.1 miles : 9,582').

A voluminous waterfall drops through a narrow chute just before reaching this turnoff, where a number of spurs lead to creek-side viewing areas.

The Lost Lake Trail turns sharply away from the creek, climbing steeply for .25 miles to the marshy western fringe of Lost Lake (1.35 miles : 9,786'). The main trail forks here into well-defined paths circling the wooded shore.

The best views and backdrops can be found along the east shore, though late afternoon arrivals may find lighting more favorable from the west. 
(Text from Protrails.com)




We parked our car in a high school parking lot. A lot of wildflowers at the roadside.



"Mayweed chamomile, Dog Daisy, or Scentless Mayweed" grows at roadside almost anywhere in the high altitude.
Mayweed are considered as a weed but they are beautiful.



During weekends, the town of Nederland offers free shuttle to the traiheads to avoid traffic jams in the narrow dirt roads. We parked the car in the town's high school and took the shuttle.



We got off the shuttle at the trail junction of Hessie (left) and "The 4th of July Trails" (to the right).



Walking into the valley on Hessie Road toward the Hessie trailhead.
 


Passing the Hessie trailhead. Once there was a town in this area.



An old worn-out sign post. We are at the southern end of Indian Peaks Wilderness in Roosevelt National Forest.
I always take pictures of the trail signs. They seem very romantic. Somehow, such pictures remind me of the trail so vividly later.



"Milkvetch" (purple flowers at left lower corner) and "One Flowered Cinquefoil" (yellow).



Crossing the North Fork of Middle Boulder Creek on a raised wooden bridge.
This bridge was raised higher, so that it doesn't get swept away in the high water in the spring snow melt.



Another more modern trail sign. This area is under care of (Federal) Bureau of Land Management.



"Subalpine Buckwheat" flower (light yellow) and "Aslike Clover" (pink)



A brief rest after a steel climb.



Flowers of "Yellow Stonecrop" naturally growing on a rock (선인장의 일종).



"Leafy Cinquefoil" flowers



The first sighting this year of a couple of "Colorado Blue Columbines" at the trailside.
This is the state flower of Colorado. In Colorado, $500 fine for cutting or damaging it.



There are so many glacial lakes in this area in the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains.



Thunderous water flow as we cross the South Fork of Middle Boulder Creek.



Looking at the upstream. 이 연속 폭포는 설악산 천불동을 연상하게 한다.



After one more steep climb through the forest of subalpine fur, we arrive to a wide open vista
at the western edge of the Lost Lake.



Suddenly, everything becomes serene and calm just like the surface of the lake water.



"Shrubby Cinquefoil" flowers



"Red Indian Paintbrush" (in the back row) and "Western Yellow Indian Paintbrush" (front row)



A father climbs with his children and a dog, a baby on his back and two young children with fishing poles following him.
Where's their mother?



Reaching the eastern shore of the Lost Lake.



Looking toward the Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains.
The snow-covered peak, slighly left of the center, is "Frog Eyes Peak" as it looks like a frog's head.
King's Lake, Devil's Thumb Lake are just below the snow-covered mountains (Indian Peaks).
They are another 4-5 miles from here and the trail may be partially covered with snow.



The Lost Lake has never been lost ! Everybody, including us, find the well-known lake at any time.
A cool breeze and snappy clean air surround us at a high alpine lake. A view toward southeast.



A view towards west.



At the trail circling the lake with a fwildflowers on both sides.



A view toward east.



"Buffalo Bean" (yellow) and "Subalpine Fleabane" (purple)



Near the west end of the lake.



한국인들이 즐겨 먹는 "취나물". 웬만한 고지의 Colorado 산길주변에 어디에 가도 있다.
"Heart-leaved Arnica"라고, 똑같은 모양의 잎에 노란 Daisy같은 꽃을 피우는 풀이 있는데, 취나물인지 아닌지는 모른다.



"Subalpine Buckwheat" flowers



"Silvery Cinquefoil"



"Aslike Clover"



"Little Sunflower, Helianthella"



"Two Grooved Milkvetch" (pink) and "Cinquefoil" (yellow)



내려 오는 길에 Aspen 숲속에서 Colorado Blue Columbine이 보인다. 이 꽃은 대개 그늘 숲속을 좋아하는듯.



돌아 가는 길. Hessie Trailhead로 다시 돌아온다.