Mirror Lake Trail
Description:
The
Mirror Lake Trail is a spectacular trail traveling across several miles of
alpine tundra and ending at beautiful Mirror Lake in Rocky Mountain National
Park. It begins near the west end of the Flowers Trail in the Comanche Peak
Wilderness. The trail across the tundra can be very faint in places. Rock
cairns help to mark the way. From the Flowers Trail it travels across a ridge
and down into a creek drainage where it intersects the Brackenbury Trail.
Here it passes through some wet meadows with low growing willows, across a
creek, and back up the south ridge of tundra. The trail here may be difficult
to follow. If you lose it, just follow the creek up and it will intersect
the trail farther up.
On
top the trail turns east where it intersects the Hourglass Trail. There is
an old wooden post marking this intersection. From here is travels southeast
along the rim of cliffs overlooking Mirror Lake. The views here are breathtaking.
The path here is very rocky and takes you near 12,500 feet in elevation, passing
below Comanche Peak. At this point you will be Rocky Mountain National Park.
A backcountry permit is required to camp in the park. The trail then descends
to a spruce forest and then down to its intersecton with a trail connecting
to the Mummy Pass Trail.
Horses
are not permitted beyond this junction as the trail up to Mirror Lake travels
through wet and fragile areas. A hitch rack is provided to tie your livestock.
The trail toward the lake travels along the edge of a large meadow and heads
up the valley making a gentle climb. As you near the lake there are trails
leading to designated campsites. It is about .9 miles to the lake and takes
about an hour to hike it round trip.
Features:
| Length: |
8.7 miles (14 kilometers) |
| Elevation Range: |
10,712' - 12,478' |
| Elevation change: |
4,409 feet |
| Season: |
July 15 - Sept 30 |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Use: |
High |
| USGS maps: |
Comanche Peak |
| Trailheads: |
Zimmerman |
| Restrictions: |
Pets must be on a leash |
| Suitable for mountain bikes: |
No (not permitted in wilderness) |
| Suitable for horses: |
Yes (Horses not permitted on the .9
mile section up to the lake. There is a hitch rack for tying your horse) |
Vicinity Map
Altitude Profile
Other
Nearby Resources:
Directions:
The
north end of the trail can be reached via the Zimmerman Trailhead and the Zimmerman
and Flowers Trails. Take Highway 287 north from Fort Collins to Highway 14.
Travel west on 14 for 25 miles to the Pingree Park Road. Take the Pingree Park
Road to the Crown Point Road (about 4.2 miles). Head west on the Crown Point
Road for 18 miles to its end and the trailhead. Hike 2.5 miles to the Flowers
Trail. Hike 1.1 miles west on the Flowers Trail to the Mirror Lake Trail.
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