East Lake Creek Out and Back

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

The East Lake Creek Trail #1880 is quite long, and extends all the way to the high alpine. This is just a nice hike to a good turnaround spot at a small cascade, but go as far as you like!

From the trailhead, you hike up and down fairly steeply at first. Pass an intersection with Dead Dog Trail #2220 then head down to the creekbed.

The trail passes through dense aspen, fir, and spruce forests and feels much cooler and wetter than most of the surrounding trails. This is a great place to escape the summer heat without going super high in altitude.

Huge moss-covered boulders line the trail and you occasionally get close to the creek. At mile 3.6 there's a particularly nice setting next to the creek and is a good place to soak your feet or enjoy lunch. Just a hair further, at mile 3.65, there's a small cascade/waterfall. You can hear it from the trail but you can't see it. Bring the Hiking Project mobile app with you to help find it!

The forests seem healthier here than many places in the rockies - nearly no pine bark beetle kill.