Devil's Thumb Trail
Description:
The Devils Thumb trail begins on the east at an elevation of 9,030 feet
and travels north and west to intersect the Corona trail at 11,920 feet.
The trail can be accessed from the Devils Thumb Park trailhead on the west
and the Hessie trailhead on the east. From Hessie travel west for about
.8 miles to where this trail intersects the Devils Thumb Bypass trail. The
bypass trail travels up the east side of the valley through a series of
open meadows and rejoins the Devils Thumb Trail about .1 miles above the
Woodland Lake trail. It is about .1 miles shorter. The Devils Thumb Trail
crosses the south fork of Middle Boulder Creek and travels along the south
side of the creek for about .4 miles before crossing it again and heading
north. There is a beautiful waterfall just a few hundred yards from the
first crossing. You’ll pass the Lost Lake trail heading south to Lost Lake.
After crossing the creek the second time the King Lake trail splits off
to the west toward King Lake and Corona Pass. The Devils Thumb Trail continues
north for about .9 miles before intersecting with the Woodland Lake Trail.
Most of this portion of the trail travels through open meadow. It shortly
rejoins the Devils Thumb Bypass Trail beyond the Woodland Lake Trail.
From
the intersection, the trail begins its climb toward Jasper Lake at the upper
end of the valley. It follows an old road bed off and on up the east side
of the valley. Some patches of wild huckleberries can be found along the
way. As you climb the east slope you are afforded many beautiful views of
the peaks to the west. The Diamond Lake Trail is intersected about 1.6 miles
from the intersection. This trail heads sharply away from the Devils Thumb
trail in the opposite direction as it climbs the ridge and drops down to
Diamond Lake. The trail levels off some a short distance from the Diamond
Lake Trail. It then travels through some wet meadows to Jasper Lake in about
.5 miles. There are several false trails leading off the main trail. Stick
to the old road bed when in doubt. The trail passes below Jasper Lake. A
trail splits off to the right to the lake and then rejoins the main trail
farther west. Jasper Lake sits in a bowl surrounded on the north by rock
faces. Storm Lake is located on a bench above and the the northwest of Jasper
Lake. It looks like a fairly strenuous climb up to Storm Lake. Camping is
permitted in designated sites only around Jasper Lake. Jasper Lake contains
brook and cutthroat trout.
The
trail makes a gradual climb through some wet meadows and spruce forest for
another 1.1 miles to Devils Thumb Lake. It gets steeper just before you
reach the lake. It follows the south shore of the lake before beginning
the steep climb to Devils Thumb Pass. The trail here is narrow and very
steep. At the top it breaks out onto the alpine tundra. It then descends
to intersect the Corona Trail.
Features:
| Length: |
6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers) |
|
Elevation Range:
|
9,030' - 11,940' |
| Elevation change: |
2,910 feet |
| Season: |
July 1 - Sept 15 |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Use: |
High |
| USGS maps: |
East Portal, Nederland |
| Trailheads: |
Devils Thumb Park, Hessie |
| Restrictions: |
Pets must be on a leash, no campfires,
designated camping around Jasper Lake |
| Suitable for mountain bikes: |
No (no bicycles in wilderness) |
| Suitable for horses: |
Yes |
Vicinity Map
Altitude Profile
Other
Nearby Resources:
Directions:
The
Devils Thumb Trail is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness and be reached
via the Corona Trail on the west and from the Hessie Trailhead on the east.
From Fraser take County Road 8 east for about 5 miles to Forest Road 128.
Take 128 north for about 2 miles and turn right to the Devils Thumb Park
Trailhead. Hike for about 3 miles to the Devils Thumb Trail.
Take
County Road 130 west from Nederland about 5 miles to the Hessie Trailhead
and the east end of the trail.
Copyright © 1999-2003 Resource Analysis Systems
All rights reserved
