15 replies to this topic

[renate1]

On Saturday Aug 27th I arrived in Estes around 5pm and after checking into my hotel room, decided to head into the park and check out the Boulder Brook Trail. I got on trail around 6pm and decided I would hike until 7pm and then turn around so I could be back to my car before dark. I wanted to get in a little hike before my big hike the next day with Igloo Ed and this trail was just the ticket.

Looking towards the next day's objective - Otis

[Monica]

What a nice first hike!

[Aaron]

Thanks for the pictures!

--Aaron

[DeeCeeM]

That looks like a very nice way to start your stay.

[John]

Gosh! That's funner than being with your uncle in Alaska hunting wolverines!

[DrCloud]

John, on 08 September 2011 - 04:49 PM, said:

Gosh! That's funner than being with your uncle in Alaska hunting wolverines!

We walked down Boulder Brook Trail (the whole way) this summer, and, the whole way, we were talking about how glad we weren't on the way up. This is a no-switchbacks trail.

So I'd amend that to "...hunting wolverines with a salad fork." HPH

[Jeannette]

DrCloud, on 08 September 2011 - 05:33 PM, said:

We walked down Boulder Brook Trail (the whole way) this summer, and, the whole way, we were talking about how glad we weren't on the way up. This is a no-switchbacks trail.

So I'd amend that to "...hunting wolverines with a salad fork." HPH

Out of the blue my husband says he'd like to try that Boulder Brook Trail when we arrive in a couple weeks. He thinks a loop from there to the North Longs Peak Trail and back to Glacier Gorge TH might be a good hike for us. So I take it from your comment that we should start at Glacier Gorge and go the other direction? I haven't found much talk about the Boulder Brook trail here, so I'm looking for some comments here on those who have done it. Thanks Renate1 for posting the pics,,,,,The scenery makes it look like a nice hike!

[DrCloud]

Jeannette, on 08 September 2011 - 06:18 PM, said:

Out of the blue my husband says he'd like to try that Boulder Brook Trail when we arrive in a couple weeks. He thinks a loop from there to the North Longs Peak Trail and back to Glacier Gorge TH might be a good hike for us. So I take it from your comment that we should start at Glacier Gorge and go the other direction? I haven't found much talk about the Boulder Brook trail here, so I'm looking for some comments here on those who have done it. Thanks Renate1 for posting the pics,,,,,The scenery makes it look like a nice hike!

We parked at Storm Pass Trailhead, walked over to the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead, took the shuttle up to Glacier Gorge, and started walking there, doing the reverse of what you just described. Downhill bothers some people (knees are vulnerable), but uphill bothers me more.

The upper half of the Boulder Brook Trail is actually not along the brook very much; the lower half, though, is, and those pictures barely do it justice. It's really quite beautiful, if you're not panting so hard you forget to look at it. And there are a couple of nice meadows in the upper half that are quite nice, too. HPH

[ScottO]

Jeannette, on 08 September 2011 - 06:18 PM, said:

Out of the blue my husband says he'd like to try that Boulder Brook Trail when we arrive in a couple weeks. He thinks a loop from there to the North Longs Peak Trail and back to Glacier Gorge TH might be a good hike for us. So I take it from your comment that we should start at Glacier Gorge and go the other direction? I haven't found much talk about the Boulder Brook trail here, so I'm looking for some comments here on those who have done it. Thanks Renate1 for posting the pics,,,,,The scenery makes it look like a nice hike!

I did this loop a few weeks ago and have climbed up the trail in the past as well. The Boulder Brook portion is about 2 miles, and the steep sections are all in the first mile. There's also a half mile lead in along the Storm Pass trail that's fairly level. I wouldn't avoid going up that way because of the steepness. You can always stop to catch your breath. The trail stays very close to the brook during the steep section, so you may want to stop for pictures anyway. The morning air is very cool and refreshing on that trail and helps subdue the mosquitoes compared to later in the day - that may not be an issue when you're there. The main negative of looping in this direction is it will be more crowded on the down climb to GG TH.

If you have the energy, a nice extension to this hike is to continue to Mills Junction rather than down to the GG TH. From the junction, you could then complete the loop by way of Lake Haiyaha finishing at Bear Lake. On this larger loop, the first mile of the Boulder Brook trail would be the steepest stuff you'd climb, and you'd be done with it early. Shuttle from Bear Lake to Bierstadt TH for a very short walk to the Storm Pass TH.

ScottO

[Qbert]

I can respect ScottO's perspective, but I'm with DrCloud. There's no way I'd recommend Boulder Brook up from Storm Pass knowing the wonderful alternative of starting at Glacier Gorge and coming down. I too recall thinking "Boy am I glad I'm going down instead of up".
Much like I'd never recommend climbing up the switchbacks to Bierstadt, knowing the Bear Lake route instead.

Renate, I'm glad you got to experience Boulder Brook. It's my new favorite trail. It's never ending beauty, for sure.

Jeannette, here's my report of the area as well if it helps:
http://www.rmnpforum...238#entry267238

[renate1]

According to ProTrails.com the Boulder Brook Trail is 2 miles and 1400ft of gain. Definitely alot to look at along the way - the steep section follows the stream and then once you start veering away from the stream you start getting views of the surrounding peaks. Will definitely be doing this one again as a loop when I have more time (daylight) to devote to it.

[mwilson]

Looks like a good warmup, and I really liked your photos.

Edited by mwilson, 08 September 2011 - 07:34 PM.

[Jeannette]

Thanks everybody,,,that's great information. When my husband first mentioned it, I told him there wasn't much talk on the forums about this trail, so I wasn't sure about it. But now that I have a better idea, this sounds like a good warm-up hike for us. You all bring so much to the table on this forum,,,Thanks!

[Bill 007]

Worth a shot. Going to do a bit of the North Longs anyway.

Bill

[mathguy]

renate1, on 08 September 2011 - 01:47 PM, said:

On Saturday Aug 27th I arrived in Estes around 5pm and after checking into my hotel room, decided to head into the park and check out the Boulder Brook Trail. I got on trail around 6pm and decided I would hike until 7pm and then turn around so I could be back to my car before dark. I wanted to get in a little hike before my big hike the next day with Igloo Ed and this trail was just the ticket.

I did the part of the Boulder Brook trail for the first time about a month ago and agree it's a beautiful trail.
However I did it the hard way (as I always seem to do...sigh) and started at Sprague Lake (which is
about the same as starting at Storm Pass I think). This was supposed to be a "rest hike" in between
doing Long's Peak the day before and doing and "Black Lake and Beyond" the day after, so I was a
little surprised (and at first annoyed!) at how steep the first part of the trail was going in that direction.
But I got over being annoyed because the trail is so pretty and is pretty much a continuous waterfall
in parts. I also took a picture of the same view of Andrews Glacier that is posted above (but renate1's is
better) and was pleasantly surprised as I never expected to get a view of the glacier from that
trail. In any case, I highly recommend it whatever whatever direction you go.