Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide - National Park Service · Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide Adams Falls...
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Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide Adams Falls (East Inlet Trailhead) This easy one-third mile hike leads to a small, pleasant water- fall. If you go past the falls, you’ll soon come to a large, glaciated valley with a river and great views where moose are sometimes seen. You can find many types of wildflowers in this area. (79 ft gain) Cascade Falls (North Inlet Trailhead) Photogenic Cascade Falls is 3.4 miles into the North Inlet Trail. This easy hike passes through an open meadow where marmots are often found and by a river that winds through a lodgepole pine forest. Fishing is good for small brook trout and an occa- sional brown trout. Allow 3–4 hours. (300 ft gain) Continental Divide Trail The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail was established by Congress in 1978 and stretches 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. Part of this trail crosses through some remote areas of Rocky. For an easy, short hike, traverse the section that crosses Onahu Creek and parallels a beautiful meadow in mixed forest. Coyote Valley Trail (Coyote Valley Trailhead) This 1 mile round trip, level trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible and has many benches for resting. Follow along the Colorado River in Kawuneeche Valley. Elk can often be seen grazing on various sedges and grasses. Picnic at the tables at one end of the trail, or fish along the trail. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for an enjoyable stroll. (level trail) Green Mountain Loop (Green Mountain or Onahu Trailhead) This trail passes along the lush, marshy Big Meadow, and through forests of lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. Watch for moose and elk forag- ing in the meadow and explore the cabin ruins of early settlers. This hike is 7.6 miles long and should take 3.5–4 hours. (1100 ft gain) Holzwarth Historic Site This is a one-half mile flat walk across the Kawuneeche Valley to the Holzwarth Trout Lodge and Historic Site, a rustic guest ranch created in the 1920s. (level trail, strollers okay) Lake Irene Along Trail Ridge Road just south of the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, this lovely subalpine lake is surrounded by tall pines, firs, and summer wildflowers, and is easily accessed from the picnic area. Strollers are welcome. Lulu City (Colorado River Trailhead) A flow- ered field is all that remains of this once booming mining town. Pass by the remains of log cabins and look for tailings from the Shipler Mine about 2 miles into the trail. The trail parallels the Colorado River and passes meadows on this easy to moderate 7.4-mile round trip hike. (350 ft gain) Lulu City/Yellowstone Loop (Colorado River Trailhead) After passing Shipler’s cabins, you’ll come to a sign saying Lulu City to the left and Little Yellowstone to the right. Stay right at the Y. Follow the trail all the way to the Grand Ditch. Formed of stark gray volcanic rock, Little Yellowstone is a miniature version of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. At the Grand Ditch take a left and follow the ditch for two miles until you see a sign that says, “Stage Road, Lulu City.” Take the left and follow the trail down. At the bottom of the trail, take a right and head toward Lulu City. The hike is 13.8 miles in length and is a moderate to strenuous hike. (990 ft gain) Shadow Mountain Lookout Trail (East Shore Trailhead) Visit an early fire lookout resting near the summit of Shadow Mountain and see a fantastic view of Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand Lake, and Lake Granby. This hike can be accessed from either the Grand Lake or Shadow Mountain Dam trailheads for the East Shore Trail. A small fee is required for parking in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Allow a minimum of 4–5 hours for this hike. (1,533 ft gain) Timber Lake (Timber Lake Trailhead) This is a 4.8 mile hike to picturesque Timber Lake, which sits at treeline at the foot of the Continental Divide and Mount Ida. There was a landslide two miles beyond the trailhead. Be careful around the slide area. Hike above the point of release, not through the landslide. The hike around the landslide is ardu- ous and exceptionally difficult, as it is steep, muddy, and slippery. It is not recommended for those who have difficulty with off-trail wilderness travel. Allow a minimum of 6–7 hours round-trip for this steep hike. (2060 ft gain) Tonahutu Start from either West Portal Road in Grand Lake or the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Leaving from the visitor center, the trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot. The trail parallels the Tonahutu Creek uphill to Big Meadows, 4.2 miles from the trailhead. If you leave from West Portal Road, it is 5.4 miles from the trailhead. (680 ft gain) Hiking Trails NPS PHOTO / ANN SCHONLAU Colorado River KV-S 05-2017 Rocky Mountain National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Rocky Mountain National Park
Transcript of Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide - National Park Service · Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide Adams Falls...
Kawuneeche ValleyTrail Guide
Adams Falls (East Inlet Trailhead) This easy one-third mile hike leads to a small, pleasant water-fall. If you go past the falls, you’ll soon come to a large, glaciated valley with a river and great views where moose are sometimes seen. You can find many types of wildflowers in this area. (79 ft gain)
Cascade Falls (North Inlet Trailhead) Photogenic Cascade Falls is 3.4 miles into the North Inlet Trail. This easy hike passes through an open meadow where marmots are often found and by a river that winds through a lodgepole pine forest. Fishing is good for small brook trout and an occa-sional brown trout. Allow 3–4 hours. (300 ft gain)
Continental Divide Trail The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail was established by Congress in 1978 and stretches 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. Part of this trail crosses through some remote areas of Rocky. For an easy, short hike, traverse the section that crosses Onahu Creek and parallels a beautiful meadow in mixed forest.
Coyote Valley Trail (Coyote Valley Trailhead) This 1 mile round trip, level trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible and has many benches for resting. Follow along the Colorado River in Kawuneeche Valley. Elk can often be seen grazing on various sedges and grasses. Picnic at the tables at one end of the trail, or fish along the trail. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for an enjoyable stroll. (level trail)
Green Mountain Loop (Green Mountain or Onahu Trailhead) This trail passes along the lush, marshy Big Meadow, and through forests of lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. Watch for moose and elk forag-ing in the meadow and explore the cabin ruins of early settlers. This hike is 7.6 miles long and should take 3.5–4 hours. (1100 ft gain)
Holzwarth Historic Site This is a one-half mile flat walk across the Kawuneeche Valley to the Holzwarth Trout Lodge and Historic Site, a rustic guest ranch created in the 1920s. (level trail, strollers okay)
Lake Irene Along Trail Ridge Road just south of the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, this lovely subalpine lake is surrounded by tall pines, firs, and summer wildflowers, and is easily accessed from the picnic area. Strollers are welcome.
Lulu City (Colorado River Trailhead) A flow-ered field is all that remains of this once booming mining town. Pass by the remains of log cabins and look for tailings from the Shipler Mine about 2 miles into the trail. The trail parallels the Colorado River and passes meadows on this easy to moderate 7.4-mile round trip hike. (350 ft gain)
Lulu City/Yellowstone Loop (Colorado River Trailhead) After passing Shipler’s cabins, you’ll come to a sign saying Lulu City to the left and Little Yellowstone to the right. Stay right at the Y. Follow the trail all the way to the Grand Ditch. Formed of stark gray volcanic rock, Little Yellowstone is a miniature version of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. At the Grand Ditch take a left and follow the ditch for two miles until you see a sign that says, “Stage Road, Lulu City.” Take the left and follow the trail down. At the bottom of the trail, take a right and head toward Lulu City. The hike is 13.8 miles in length and is a moderate to strenuous hike. (990 ft gain)
Shadow Mountain Lookout Trail (East Shore Trailhead) Visit an early fire lookout resting near the summit of Shadow Mountain and see a fantastic view of Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand Lake, and Lake Granby. This hike can be accessed from either the Grand Lake or Shadow Mountain Dam trailheads for the East Shore Trail. A small fee is required for parking in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Allow a minimum of 4–5 hours for this hike. (1,533 ft gain)
Timber Lake (Timber Lake Trailhead) This is a 4.8 mile hike to picturesque Timber Lake, which sits at treeline at the foot of the Continental Divide and Mount Ida. There was a landslide two miles beyond the trailhead. Be careful around the slide area. Hike above the point of release, not through the landslide. The hike around the landslide is ardu-ous and exceptionally difficult, as it is steep, muddy, and slippery. It is not recommended for those who have difficulty with off-trail wilderness travel. Allow a minimum of 6–7 hours round-trip for this steep hike. (2060 ft gain)
Tonahutu Start from either West Portal Road in Grand Lake or the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Leaving from the visitor center, the trailhead is at the south end of the parking lot. The trail parallels the Tonahutu Creek uphill to Big Meadows, 4.2 miles from the trailhead. If you leave from West Portal Road, it is 5.4 miles from the trailhead. (680 ft gain)
Hiking Trails
N P S P H O T O / A N N S C H O N L A UColorado River
KV-S 05-2017
Rocky Mountain National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior
Rocky Mountain National Park
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49
491
491
492
MichiganLakes
LakeAgnes
HazelineLake
Will
ow
Cree
k
Creek
Lake ofthe Clouds
MurphyLake
PettingellLake
PtarmiganLake
SnowdriftLake
FifthLake
BenchLake
Cache
la
Poudre
Rive
r
Chapin
TimberLake
PoudreLake
HaynachLakes
LakeNokoni
LakeNanita
Lone PineLake
LakeVerna Spirit
Lake
FourthLake
CO
LOR
AD
O
RIV
ER
GraniteFalls
CascadeFalls
AdamsFalls
WardanceFalls
Timber Creek
Onahu
Echo Paradise
Creek
Creek
Ton
ahu
tu
Creek
Creek
Shad
ow M
ount
ain
Lake
Grand Lake
Ptar
mig
an
Crk
Specimen Crk
11796ft3595m
MedicineBow Curve
Farview Curve
Milner Pass
ColoradoRiver Trailhead
Red Mtn TrailJunction
Timber LakeTrailhead
Bowen Baker Trailhead
Coyote Valley Trailhead
Onahu Trailhead
Green MountainTrailhead
HarbisonMeadows
Tonahutu/North InletTrailheads
ShadowMountain
Dam
Shadow MountainLookout Tower
East InletTrailhead
East ShoreTrailhead
Site ofLulu City
Lake Irene
Timber CreekCampground
HolzwarthHistoric Site
GrandLakeEtranceStation
Trail Ridge Road
GRAND
LAKE
Litt
le
Yello
wst
one
La Poudre Pass
ThunderPass
Skeleton
Gulch
Long Meadow
s
Summerland Park
Ten Lake Park
Baker Gulch
Bowen Gulch
North
East
Inlet
Inlet
Kaw
un
ee
che
Val le
y
BigMeadows
Gra
nd
Dit
ch
NE
VE
R
SU
MM
ER
MT
NS
Lulu Mountain12228ft3727mMount
Richthofen12940ft3944m
MountCirrus
12797ft3901m
Howard Mtn12810ft3904m
MountCumulus
12725ft3879m
BakerMtn
12397ft3779m
MountStratus
MountNimbus
12706ft3873m
Red Mtn11605ft3537m
Mineral Point11488ft3502m
SpecimenMountain
12489ft3807m
JackstrawMountain11704ft3567m
Nakai Peak12216ft3723m
Snowdrift Peak12274ft3741m
Mount Patterson11424ft3482m
Mount Enentah10781ft3286m
ShadowMountain10155ft3095m Mount Wescott
10421ft3176m
MountCraig
12007ft3660m
Mount Bryant11034ft3363m
Andrews Peak12565ft3830m
PtarmiganMountain
12324ft3756m
MountCairns
Nisa Mountain10788ft3288m
Green Mtn10313ft3143m
Gabletop Mtn11939ft3639m
Knobtop Mtn12331ft3758m
PtarmiganPoint12363ft3768m
HallettPeak
12713ft3875m
FlatironMountain
12335ft3760m
Mount Chiquita13069ft3983m
Mount Chapin12454ft3796m
ShiplerMountain11317ft3449m
DesolationPeaks
FlattopMtn12324ft3756m
Alpine Visitor Center
KawuneecheVisitor Center
1.6mi2.6km
1.9mi3.1km
1.7mi2.7km
1.1mi1.8km
1.2mi1.9km
0.9mi1.4km
2.7mi4.3km
0.5mi0.8km
0.8mi1.3km
0.3mi0.5km
0.8mi1.3km
3.3mi5.3km
4.3mi6.9km
3.1mi5.0km
1.9mi3.1km
2.5mi4.0km
1.3mi2.1km
1.7mi2.7km
3.3mi5.3km 1.5mi
2.4km
0.6mi1.0km
1.5mi2.4km
1.2mi1.9km
0.8mi1.3km0.6mi
1.0km1.8mi2.9km
2.6mi4.2km
1.5mi2.4km
4.3mi6.9km
4.6mi7.4km
4.1mi6.6km
3.4mi5.5km
4.5mi7.2km1.5mi
2.4km
3.3mi5.3km
1.2mi1.9km
1.4mi2.3km 1.0mi
1.6km
0.6mi1.0km
3.4mi5.5km
2.3mi3.7km
1.0mi1.6km
1.5mi2.4km
2.4mi3.9km
0.5mi0.8km
1.1mi1.8km
To Granby and
To Estes Park To Estes Park
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toParikaLake
toMummy Passand Corral CreekTrailhead
toBowen LakeBlue Lake
Picnic area
Restrooms
Food service
Information
Campground
Trail (hiker only)
Continental Divide Trail
0.7mi1.1km
Trail distances
Unpaved road
Trail (horse/hiker)
Interpretive trail
Wheelchair accessible
North
2 Kilometers
0 2 Miles
0
DESTINATION DISTANCEmi km ft m
ELEVATION GAIN
Easy
Adams Falls
Cascade Falls
Coyote Valley
Moderate
Big Meadows via Green Mtn TH
Big Meadows via Kawuneeche VC
Granite Falls
Little Yellowstone
Lulu City
Red Mountain to Grand Ditch
Difficult
Haynach Lakes
Lone Pine Lake
Lake Verna
Shadow Mountain Lookout Tower
Timber Lake
All distances are one way from nearest trailhead.
0.3
3.4
0.5
1.8
4.2
5.2
4.5
3.7
3.3
8.2
4.8
6.9
4.8
4.8
0.5
5.5
0.8
2.9
6.8
8.4
7.2
6.0
5.3
13.2
7.7
11.1
7.7
7.7
79
300
0
606
680
1046
990
350
1160
2286
1494
1809
1533
2060
24
91
0
185
207
319
302
107
354
697
455
551
467
628
Kawuneeche Valley Trails
