Rejoin the Thunder Lake trail and hike for about 2 miles on the maintained trail through dense forest until you reach your destination. There are 3 individual sites, 1 group site and 1 stock site. It seems that RMNP is getting busier and busier each time I go. At just over 1.6 miles hikers will reach the Tahosa Backcountry Campsite. Thunder Lake - bridge at Ouzel Falls is missing - detours are in place. offer a total of seven individual campsites. Built in 1930, the 12-foot (3.7 m) by 16-foot (4.9 m) cabin may have been built as a simple shelter, but has more recently been used on an occasional basis as a backcountry patrol cabin in the Wild Basin area. At roughly 5.6 miles you'll reach the spur trail that provides access to the Thunder Lake Group Campsite. One of the hallmarks of true high-country fishing … At roughly 1.9 miles you'll pass the Aspen Knoll Backcountry Campsite, and at roughly 2.5 miles you'll reach the North St. Vrain Backcountry Campsite. Thunder Lake. Visit Website. 18. The Thunder Lake Trail junction is also located here. There's a side trail that visits both the lower and upper falls. At roughly 3.9 miles hikers will arrive at the Lion Lake No. From Thunder Lake, we retrace day 1 and 2 and descend east to our starting trailhead on the southeastern side of Rocky Mountain National Park. After walking downhill for a short distance hikers will finally reach Thunder Lake, roughly 5.8 miles from the trailhead. From left to right it's framed by 12,420-foot Tanima Peak, 12,222-foot Pilot Mountain, and 13,310-foot Mount Alice towards the northwest. The Thunder Lake Patrol Cabin is a small structure in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. There are many backcountry and cross country destinations from Thunder Lake. Drive back to Estes Park, Boulder, or Denver. Thunder Lake has 5 different campsites around it. The main cabin is gable-roofed, with a small shed-roofed porch, and is a good example of the National Park Servi… The hike to Thunder Lake begins from the fairly remote Wild Basin Trailhead in the southeastern corner of The trail is one of the best kept secrets of Rocky Mountain National Park, and although the trail is between 12.6 and 13.5 miles in length and climbs 2,500 feet to elevations just above 11,000 feet, the result is well worth the hike! From the Wild Basin Trailhead, continue past Copeland Falls on the Wild Basin trail. Thunder Lake Trail is a 11.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Allenspark, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. Elevation loss: -2110′. Taking the main route passes Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, but adds almost another mile to your one-way destination. Great Wild Basin Trail With Gorgeous Lake This Wild Basin trail is only more difficult than the Ouzel Lake trail due to this being a longer trail (13.6 mile round trip versus a 9.8 mile round trip). May 1 - Sep 15 (100% reservable) Site Type … Thunder lake was where I ultimately decided I wanted to be when I was planning my day hike through Rocky Mountain National Park the night before. Old historic park ranger cabin at Thunder Lake in the Wild Basin of Rocky Mountain National Park. Hotels near Thunder Lake day hike or backpack, Rocky Mountain National Park on Tripadvisor: Find 20,245 traveller reviews, 10,456 candid photos, and prices for 108 hotels near Thunder Lake day hike or backpack in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO. Includes a printable map with elevation profile, photographs of the hike, and how to get there. The Thunder Lake Backcountry Campsite lies near Thunder Lake, a beautiful high-elevation lake surrounded by towering mountains including Mount Alice, Pilot Mountain, and Tanima Peak. More information about the Thunder Lake campsites. The Thunder Lake site is located 6.8 miles from the Wild Basin Trailhead at 10,574'. Next Hike >> Thunder Lake - 6.8 miles. Beyond the two waterfalls the trail crosses over Sandbeach Creek. To reach the trailhead from Estes Park, drive 12.6 miles south on Colorado Highway 7 to the Wild Basin Road junction and turn right. The southernmost entrance to RMNP is just outside of Allenspark, Colorado. I decided I would hike into Thunder Lake in the Wild Basin section of Rocky Mountain National Park. Backpack to Thunder Lake (RMNP) 4/17/2017 1 Comment Trip Date: April 15-16, 2017. To continue on towards Thunder Lake you should remain on the main trail, which leads towards the left. in 1930, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Each lake has its own special qualities, which usually include dramatic mountain scenery and massive boulder-laced shoreline. Be sure to use the short-cut trail connecting Wild Basin Trail to Thunder Lake Trail. Thanks for watching! From there you can follow the St. Vrain Creek to Ouzel Lake, Bluebird Lake, Thunder Lake, and Pear Lake. The overall trail to Thunder Lake is steady with elevation gain. The campsite trail rejoins Thunder Lake trail. The Thunder Lake Patrol Cabin is also located here. The trail can also be done as a multi-day hike, with eight backcountry campsites near the trail. The North Fork Trail to Lost Lake starts off in Comanche Peak Wilderness Area, and of the total 9.75-mile, one-way distance to Lost Lake, the first 4.7 miles fall in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area before crossing into RMNP. Distance: 7 miles and 6 hours. On the way to Ouzel and Bluebird Lakes, you also pass by three waterfalls. Some of these include Box Lake, Eagle Lake, Frigid Lake and Eagles Beak, Mertensia Falls, Indigo Pond, Falcon Lake, Lake of Many Winds, The Cleaver, Pilot Mountain, Boulder-Grand Pass. Lake of Glass and Sky Pond – Glacial Elegance. Reaching Thunder Lake requires an aggressive day hike of 6.7 miles one-way from the trailhead. Thunder Lake sits in an incredibly beautiful setting. Occasionally, as you climb higher, you'll have sporadic views of the surrounding mountains. The 17-mile hike is truly a remote adventure. This trail parallels the main trail, and once you've visited Upper Copeland Falls, will allow you to return back to the main trail without having to backtrack. But the hikes are so long, I'll never to that". Copyright Because this is an extensive hike in rugged country, it may be wise to … They are well-treed and suited to RVs and tents. For the most part this unimproved spur trail continues to follow the North St. Vrain Creek. 3 individual campsites, 1 stock campsite, and 1 group campsite. The one story one-room log cabin is not used in the winter, but does have a stove with a stone fireplace. Lily Lake… Thunder Lake has 5 different campsites around it. Lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado, More information about the Thunder Lake campsites. Ben Fullerton. ADVERTISEMENT. I was pretty dissapointed for the first half mile but I quickly got over it. Thunder Lake sits at the top of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Wild Basin, one of the more scenic and isolated cirques. Camp in the designated site at Thunder Lake and get right to the climbing the next morning on this 16.4-mile lollipop loop in the park's southern section. We … Overnight backpack to Thunder Lake in the Wild Basin region of RMNP. Describes the Thunder Lake trail, a 6.8 mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. The campsite trail will save you approximately .7 miles in distance. The easiest way to reach Box Lake is from the Wild Basin Trailhead. Upper Copeland Falls is located another one-tenth of a mile further upstream on the North St. Vrain Creek. Erik Stensland. Tips & Resources for Hiking to Fan Falls in RMNP. Stay left, and you will get to see Calypso Cascades and Ouzel Falls, which are two amazing waterfalls and are the most popular destination in the Wild Basin. Take the Thunder Lake trail until you reach Thunder Lake, then the 1 mile or so off trail bushwhack begins. Thunder Lake (10,574’) is probably one of my least favorite lakes in RMNP. At a distance of 6.5 miles one-way to this remote backcountry lake you generally encounter only those people who are spending the night; and with a total of only four camping sites very few people in total get to see this amazing place. box lake, eagle lake, eagles beak, frigid lake, hiking rocky mountain national park, moomaw glacier, thunder lake, wild basin, Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be infinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us, because unfathomable. Description Thunder Lake sits at the top of Wild Basin, one of the most stunning and lesser-visited cirques in Rocky Mountain National Park. All rights reserved. If you take the Ouzel Falls path, make sure to keep to the right and take the Thunder Lake trail, not the Ouzel Lake trail once you leave the falls. More information about the Thunder Lake campsites. Allow five to seven hours to hike to the campsites. The hike to Thunder Lake begins from the fairly remote Wild Basin Trailhead in the southeastern corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, located near the small communities of Meeker Park and Allenspark. There are many amenities and activities here, including showers, a beach, playground, boat launch, and trails. Over the course of this short section of trail we saw several glacier lilies, but only a few were in bloom during our late-June hike. It’s pretty rocky in some places but overall it’s in pretty good condition. To continue on towards Thunder Lake, via the shortest route, hikers should turn right at this junction. After driving four-tenths of a mile, make another right turn into the park. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. From the trailhead, pass wildflower-filled meadows on the way to Thunder Lake. Thunder Lake is located in the Wild Basin of Rocky Mountain National Park. There is backcountry camping allowed with a permit. Horse trail to Thunder Lake (which coincides in part with hiking trail to Thunder Lake) is closed. Alice, Thunder Lake has one of the most prized trout stocks in the park with stunning views of Mt. The lake is reached by following 6.8-mile Thunder Lake Trail, one of Glacier Basin’s best hikes. @ document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); RockyMountainHikingTrails.com. Alice and Pilot Mountain alpen glow. Nick Sangetta and Barb Sangetta hike Thunder Lake in the Wild Basin Area of the Rocky Mountain National Park on November 2, 2017. Please read this Disclaimer / Privacy Policy before using any information on this site. Alice, Pilot Mountain, and Tanima Peak flanking the waterways of Wild Basin. I checked with the RMNP backcountry office about the Thunder Lake Trail and the backcountry campsites. Lower Copeland Falls, your first destination along this route, arrives at roughly one-third of a mile from the trailhead. … Length 11.2 miElevation gain 2234 ftRoute type Out & back This spot also marks the highest point on the hike. Difficulty Description: Moderate – On moderate trips, you will hike 3-6 miles with a 25-35 pound backpack on maintained trails. Thunder Lake and Wild Basin – The Western Edge of Rocky Mountain National Park On the edge of one of the most remote 13ers in Rocky Mountain National Park, Mt. In September we hiked to Thunder Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park for a total of almost 13 miles, on the further end of what we can comfortably hike in a day. This lake is surrounded by stunning massive granite … Camping: The Thunder Lake campsite and others along this route can be reserved through the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Offices. Permits are required for backcountry camping everywhere in Rocky Mountain National Park and only allowed at designated areas. Although this spur trail is the shortest route to Thunder Lake, it's a little bit more primitive and a little bit more rugged than the main trail. As usual, when heading to Thunder Lake, Lion Lake, or surrounding areas I would recommend taking the campsite shortcut trail to cut.7 mile off of your hike. This large campground has over 125 sites, both unserviced and powered. It also features a old historic Park Ranger Cabin. This backpacking trip takes us to the shores of Thunder Lake, and then far beyond it into some remote and truly magnificent high country. The individual sites are located in a forested area north of the trail about 300 yards east of the lake. Sunrise at Thunder Lake, Mt. Horses are also able to use this trail. Well, today was the day to tackle Thunder Lake. Park at the Wild Basin trail head and start on up. If you plan on fishing Box Lake and its drainage, consider making this an overnight trip. Nearly every new hike we go on in Rocky feels like we’ve discovered a special place, but Thunder Lake in particular was one of the most beautiful alpine lakes we’ve seen so far in Rocky, and in Colorado. This small one-room log cabin was built The hike over to Falcon Falls requires first descending to where the landscape is not so steep and rocky, as a lateral hike would require travel through steep and difficult terrain. Permits are required for backcountry camping everywhere in Rocky Mountain National Park and only allowed at designated areas. In all, the five campgrounds in this area You can safely get to those sites and the sites were not damaged in the flood. RMNP - Thunder Lake I had always looked at a map of the Wild Basin area of RMNP and thought, "wow, wouldn't it be cool to hike to all those lakes. Hike to Thunder Lake. Camping. Thunder Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park On a spectacular November 1st morning Mount Alice and Pilot Mountain glowed over Thunder Lake with the most amazing purple light at dawn. There is also about 500 more feet of elevation gain (Thunder Lake is at 10,600 feet), but it is not steeper, unless you At almost 1.4 miles hikers will reach the Pine Ridge Backcountry Campsite. Thunder Lake Campground is found in Thunder Lake Provincial Park, 21 km west of Barrhead on Hwy. Upon arriving at the winter TH I realized I'd left the camera battery in the charger at home. 1 Trail junction. Just beyond this junction is the Siskin Backcountry Campsite. 3 individual campsites, 1 stock campsite, and 1 group campsite. Home Hike Rocky Magazine RMNP Updates Hiking Guide > Hiker's Log Field Guides > > GPSMyHike Rocky Mountain Day Hikes << Back to Longer Hikes. For the most part the trail travels under the canopy of the forest for almost the entire route. Copeland Mountain from the trail. It has a ranger patrol cabin that adds some mystique to the spot, but on a whole the area while still beautiful isn’t what I have come to expect from this amazing park. You can expect stunning days in the high country thanks to waterfalls, high-alpine lakes and sweeping views of the Continental Divide. Scramble up scree and talus past lakes and waterfalls to the Boulder-Grand Pass, a smooth point in an … Just beyond this site is a spur trail that provides access to a series of campgrounds. The trail descends first for about 100 feet and 0.3 mile to a creek bed and then follows the creek all the way to Lost Lake. Falcon Falls is formed by a creek that spills out of Falcon Lake, a small alpine lake located about 600′ above Thunder Lake. The Wild Basin Trailhead is located roughly 2.2 miles from the park turn-off on a narrow, two-wheel drive gravel road. The colors on this morning were unbelievable and I couldn't believe that I was privileged to be there and see it in person. 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