Hiking Routes near Buena Vista, Colorado Lost Lake Photo: Alex Hufft Distance: 2.6 miles round trip Elevation Gain: 680 ft. Recommended Map: Latitude 40◦ Maps: Salida / Buena Vista Directions: From the stoplight in downtown Buena Vista at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Main Street, head west on Main Street/CR 306 and travel for 18.1 miles. You’ll be going in the same direction as Cottonwood Pass. The trailhead will be on your left, and a small parking section is located on the right side of the road; keep your eyes peeled because the trailhead can be easily missed. Lake Ann Photo: Susan Wood Distance: 7.6 miles round trip (from 4WD trailhead) Elevation: 10,560 ft. – 11,811 ft. Elevation Gain: 1,251 ft. Directions: To reach Lake Ann, head north out of Buena Vista on Highway 24 North for about 15 miles as you head toward Clear Creek Reservoir. Turn left to travel west on County Road 390 and continue for about 11.6 miles. Once you reach the ghost town of Winfield, turn left onto a small dirt road (FR 390.2B).

After 0.1 miles, you’ll see a parking and camping area to your left. If you don’t have a four-wheel drive vehicle, you’ll have to park here and hike about 2 miles to the trailhead. If you do have a four-wheel drive vehicle, continue 2.1 miles on a rough section of road to the trailhead (when you reach 0.7 miles past Winfield, the road becomes a junction where you must turn right). tf2 best way to organize backpackStay on this road until you see the parking lot.naoto fukasawa backpack Route Info: Once you reach the trailhead, you’ll see the route to Mount Huron on the left and the route to Lake Ann on the right (behind the trailhead sign). vanguard 2go backpackThe beginning 1.7 miles of the route is relatively flat, and you’ll cross a couple trickling streams. nwu backpack regulations

At 1.6 miles, stay to the right, as there is a fork between Lake Ann/Continental Divide Trail on the right and the Apostles Trail to the left (a sign will clearly mark this split). At 3.2 miles, you’ll find a waterfall towards your left; you must cross it to get to the trail on the other side. The route will get quite a bit steeper after the waterfall and will switchback. cascade 5200 backpackAs you ascend up the tundra face, you’ll start seeing views of the beautiful valley. backpack 26 coleraineAt mile 3.7, you’ll come to another fork in the trail. Stay left and continue another 800 feet until you reach to the lake (the right trail leads to the Continental Divide). Lake Hartenstein Photo: Anna Wong Lake Hartenstein is within an easy distance from downtown Buena Vista and is accessed by the Denny Creek Trailhead, one of the major entry points of the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness area.

This trailhead leads not only to Lake Hartenstein but also to Mount Yale, Browns Pass and Kroenke Lake. Hike northwest on the trail for about 1.25 miles, and you’ll see a sign that indicates the junction between Mt. Yale and Lake Hartenstein. Stay left at the fork to head towards Lake Hartenstein, and you’ll see another sign in about 0.6 miles that indicates the junction between the lake and Browns Pass. Keep left and continue for about 0.5 miles on the Lake Hartenstein trail. The lake will be about 2.3 miles from the trailhead. If you choose to go right at the last junction, you’ll head towards Browns Pass (12,000 ft.) which is located on the Continental Divide. Browns Pass is about 3.2 miles from Denny Creek Trailhead. The trail continues past Browns Pass, heads toward Kroenke Lake, and then descends into the North Cottonwood drainage. Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Length: 4.6 miles round-trip Starting Elevation: 9,900 ft. Elevation Gain: 1,750 ft.

Directions: From the traffic light in Buena Vista, go west for about 12 miles on Main Street/County Road 306 and travel until you see the Denny Creek Trailhead on the right. Length: 12 miles round-trip (5 miles round-trip if you stop at waterfall) Starting Elevation: 8,900 ft. Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft. Directions: From downtown Buena Vista, travel east on US Highway 24 (heading towards Salida). After about 2.4 miles, US-24 East will turn into US-285 South. Continue about 8.8 miles until you reach County Road 270. Turn right onto County Road 270 and continue for about 1.5 miles, and then continue straight onto County Road 272. After about 2 miles, turn left to stay onto County Road 272. Keep following County Road 272 until you reach the Browns Creek trailhead. Total driving time from downtown Buena Vista should be about 30 minutes. Length: 6.6 miles round-trip Starting Elevation: 10,700 ft. Directions: From the traffic light in downtown Buena Vista, travel west on Main Street/County Road 306 for about 14 miles until you reach the Ptarmigan Trailhead on the left side of the road.

Route Info: As you start on the Ptarmigan Lake Trail, you’ll cross a bridge and climb past two boulder fields (one at 0.2 miles and one at 0.7 miles). Once you’re about 1.45 miles in, you’ll cross over a Forest Service Road. At about mile 2.8, you’ll pass through a meadow to the lower lake and will find a second pond below the shelf. Continue on the trail until you reach Ptarmigan Lake (the largest lake), located about 3.3 miles from the trailhead. Reserve your gear now!Home / Trip Reports / TGO Challenge / I've now spent the good part of a month on detailed planning of my 2010 Challenge Route, and I've made some fairly major changes since I posted it last on January 7. I've added a nearly full rest day in Kingussie and held a one and a half day in reserve, in case I need a little extra time finishing week 2. Despite that, the shape of the route has not changed all the much, but it's a bit less ambitious a little than before, with less Munro ascents. But for all that, I expect glorious scenery along the way plus the companionship of my fellow Challengers.My plane and bus reservations to Scotland are booked, my new employer has graciously approved my long vacation, and I have a first night's lodging arranged in Sheil Bridge.

Now it's time to send my route to the vetters for final approval, book my last few nights on the east coast, sort out my sponsors and charity, and start packing my kit. After over a year of planning, it's beginning to dawn on me just how big this adventure is going to be. This is going to happen!DayOS GridsMilesAscent (m)StartSleepRoute13311.5650Shiel BridgeWildActivity Center, Glenlicht House, Allt Grannda Waterfalls, Camban, Alltbeithe233, 2513.931441AlltbeitheWildCarnach Mor, Cnoc Fada, Coire Leachavie, Mam Sodhail(1181), Carn Eige (1183), Sgurr na Lapaich(1036), Loch Affric325, 3411.75477Loch AffricWildAllt Garbh, Cougie, Creag Bhog, Coire Dho, Cul Dubh43411.7464Cul DubhB&BCeannacroc Bridge, Collie Ghormaig, Meall Dahm, Druim a' Chathair, Old Military Rd, Jenkins Farm, Fort Augustus53416.3972Fort AugustusWildCulhachy Ho, General Wades, Corrieyairack Pass, Melgarve, Garva Bridge63515.5425Garva BridgeWildGarvamore, Laggan, Drumgask, Catlodge, Melm, Phones7353.423PhonesB&BKingussie835, 4315.5578KingussieWildDruim na Feuraich, Maol a Ghiubhais, Baileguish, Stonehopper, Rushie Non Leum, River Eidart94316276River EidartWildGeldie Burn, White Bridge, Lin of Dee, Victoria Bridge, Braemar1043151173BraemarWildInvercauld Bridge, Connachat Cottage, Gelder Shiel, Meikle Pap (980), Monelpie Moss, Glas-allt Shiel1143, 4415654Glas-allt ShielWildSheilin of Mark, Muckle Cairn, Loch Lee, Hill of Rowan, Tarfside124417.5369TarfsideB&BWoodhaugh, Dalhastnie