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Brainard Lake Snowshoe Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.5 (23)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Ward
  5. Brainard Lake Recreation Area
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“A pleasant snowshoe through dense forest to a great view of the continental divide. ”

Nick Wilder
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Map Key

4.8

Miles

7.8

KM

Out and Back

10,352' 3,155 m

High

10,073' 3,070 m

Low

468' 143 m

Up

467' 142 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Lake · Views

This trail is for winter use only when snow covered.

Overview

This is a dedicated snowshoe trail open in the winter only. The views at the end of the trail (at Brainard Lake) might be amazing, or might look like the inside of a cloud. Either way, the hike through the woods to get there is quite nice.

Need to Know

This entire area is often howling with wind, but almost the entire trail is well protected by trees and very pleasant even in quite bad weather. At the end, when you hit Brainard Lake, you might get blown away by the gusts of wind, and even when it's totally clear in Boulder, the weather up here can limit visibility to almost nothing.

Description

From the winter parking area (no fee required in winter), cross the road and look for the well-marked beginning of the trail on the south side of the road. You'll cross a few other trails, but this is well-signed—just keep an eye out for the blue snowshoe blazes high up on the tree trunks. You'll pass two small lakes, which will most likely be frozen solid, continue on, and eventually cross the road back to the woods on the north side of it.

You'll then soon pop out at a campground, which presents the only trail-finding difficulties. Hug the left (south) edge of the campground and you'll soon find the trail again as it heads to Brainard Lake. If you can't find it, just follow the road this short bit to the lake.

From the lake, you are looking up at the Continental Divide, which hosts some great hikes in the summer, and some popular backcountry ski lines in the winter.

After enjoying the views (or the wind and clouds), head back the way you came.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Boulder Ranger District Office

Shared By:

Nick Wilder
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 23 votes

#5

in Brainard Lake Recreation Area

#516

Overall
  4.5 from 23 votes
5 Star
61%
4 Star
30%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
4%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#5

in Brainard Lake Recreati…

#110

in Colorado

#516

Overall
106 Views Last Month
16,501 Since Feb 8, 2018
Intermediate Intermediate
26%
9%
57%
0%
4%
4%
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Photos

February snowshoe to Brainard Lake
Feb 8, 2018 near Nederland, CO
Snowshoeing to Brainard Lake
Feb 8, 2018 near Nederland, CO

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jul 28, 2024
Private User
Mar 16, 2024
Matt Culpepper
Epic snowshoe to west side of lake and back via Recreation Road (5.5/360) 2mi
Nov 26, 2023
Demetrio Ruiz Garay
Aug 21, 2023
Ad Benz
We did it on 08/20
Apr 22, 2023
Josepb Vagge
Anniversary trip. Made it about half way
May 23, 2022
Elizabeth Johnson
Snowshoed to Brainard lake. Lots of fresh heavy snow. The two small lakes come early and it's is harder to follow after the campground. 4.8mi
May 22, 2022
Ari R.
Nov 17, 2021
Thomas Horn
pretty. much wind at lake 4.8mi

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