16 replies to this topic

[mwilson]

It's rare that we don't spend at least one day in Indian Peaks Wilderness when we go to Colorado. It's probably about an hour's drive from the park, mostly on Hwy. 7. We've hiked to Blue Lake several times, Mount Audubon, and Lake Isabelle. The time we hiked to Lake Isabelle, it was cloudy all day, and I really wanted to go back when it was sunny. One thing I always enjoy about IPW is that the flowers are awesome, and you know me and flowers. This year though there was so much snow in the area that flowers were very late and the most prevalent ones were marsh marigolds, the first to poke out after the snow melts. When we arrived at IPW, we discovered that they are in the process of building a new entrance station and completely redoing the campground, so it was actually closed down for the summer. I couldn't help but wonder if they are putting in flush toilets!

You start the hike to Lake Isabelle near Long Lake, named I'm sure because it is a long lake. You probably hike along it for nearly a mile. Here I am at the beginning of the hike.


As I mentioned the first part of the hike is along the lake and along the typical wooded trail. It's very peaceful and it wasn't particularly busy. Since it is a wilderness area though, it is not uncommon to find some dogs hiking along with their owners. When the views open up, they are fantastic.


I missed the flower filled meadows we had seen before, but the snowy peaks made up for it. We did find some pretty columbine though and who can resist photographing columbines?


When we arrived at the lake, we needed to cross a very large snowfield. We had just taken our snow baskets off our poles before we left on our trip. They would have come in handy here!

We found a pretty place to eat out lunch next to a little falls formed from melting snow above and running down to the lake.

Looking at Lake Isabelle.

And back down toward the trail we came up.

On our back to the trailhead we took a little loop trail around the other side of the lake. It was called the Jean Luning Trail, and was a lot muddier than the regular trail, but it was nearly deserted and lovely.
It seems that sometimes our luck at Indian Peaks Wilderness is not always the best. One time we returned to a car with a flat tire, and this year when we got something out of the trunk, it would not latch, which would cause a few inconveniences for the rest of the trip. However, if you've never taken a side trip to IPW, I can hardily recommend it. It is truly a gorgeous area!

[Rhonda]

I will definitely have to do that next time I am up there in some season besides winter. Those are beautiful pictures, Marsha.

[Bill 007]

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha......
Those are incredible photos!!! Lake Isabelle just made our list! You & Ken just inspire the heck out of us....well done guys!!!

Bill
( )

[mwilson]

By the way, this is only about 4 miles round trip, maybe a little further since we took the other trail back, but it's a really easy hike. I noticed some blazes high on the trees, so I'm guessing some people snowshoe, but it would be a longer snowshoe, because that parking area is not open during the winter.

[rcw]

Looks like a nice hike. We have not done anything in IPW yet.

[Igloo Ed]

Blue Lake and Mt. Toll are where I cut my mountaineering teeth.

[Twinebender]

Marsha,

Glad you and Ken got to do IPW. Lake Isabelle looks awesome. Thanks for the photos.

[mwilson]

Rick, someday Bruce will have to tell you the story about when Ken and I went to Blue Lake and he and Alisa went up Mt. Audubon and returned down a trough to the Blue Lake area. He said he feared for their lives! Needless to say, after that, when Ken and I went up to the summit of Audubon, we returned back down the same trail, since I wanted to return alive.

[Scrapinator]

Ok, I've just added that to my list of "must do's" Thanks for a great report with beautiful pictures.

[John]

I've got to get to IPW. Really great report!

[mistylady]

I've been wanting to go to IPW. Your pictures have inspired me to try to get there during this year's trip. Nice report, Marsha.

[DeeCeeM]

Beautiful pictures and a great report!

[Allie]

Thinking we will hit that area this fall, Marsha, what a gorgeous area.

[B-Jay]

Oh, my! Look at all that snow in late July. The lake is much higher than when we visited Lake Isabelle a couple years ago in September.

You certainly had a beautiful day in the mountains (except for the trunk latch problem).

B-Jay

[mwilson]

I think they drain the lake down in late summer and early fall, so I've heard it is not nearly as pretty then. Blue Lake is another option at that point. We really debated between the two and usually the flowers are just awesome on the trail to Blue Lake, but I really wanted to go to Isabelle on a sunny day. I'm glad we made that decision, because with the flower blooming late, I don't think they would have been very spectacular when we were there. By now though, I bet they are wonderful.