Photo Credit: Jasmin Watts
Our late start would cost us a few extra soggy miles.
As we drove past the parking area for Lost Lake near Eldora around 8:30 am, all the spots were taken. Our new friends, following us in their Prius, eyed the water crossing to the 4×4 trailhead, but thought better of it.
Should have taken the free shuttle from Nederland on this busy Saturday in mid-June! Lesson learned.
We doubled back to the town of Eldora and parked at 6th @ Eldorado, about two miles from the trail parking area.
The extra mileage wouldn’t have normally bothered me, especially as the road was pretty level, but thunderstorms were forcast at 11:45a. We didn’t have much time to get up to the lake and back.
Our brisk walk to the parking area took about 35 minutes. We made a pit stop at the convenient porta-cans, then hit the trail. Mileage from the parking area to the lake and back is 4.1 miles round trip, with 869 elevation gain.
The beginning of the trail is a series of boards and trail through evergreens alongside the 4×4 road, currently looking more like a large muddy pond from Spring runoff.
We passed what’s left of Hessie, a once thriving camp on Boulder Creek between Eldorado (now Eldora) and Lost Lake.
Hessie Townsite – Once a camp for gold mines at Lost Lake and Fourth of July
At the trailhead, we took the footbridge over the creek.
Soon the trail steepened. It was our first hike of he season, and I was winded.
Deep inhales through the nose. Exhales through pursed lips. Hike steady.
We stopped along the open part of the trail to catch our breath, then pushed on.
Soon we got to the first set of falls. We enjoyed the sound of the rushing creek for most of the rest of the trail.
We crossed the south fork of the Middle Boulder Creek, and pressed on.
We came to a powerful waterfall in a narrow chute. Brogan walked down to it, enjoying the water spray.
By the time we arrived at Lost Lake, elevation 9786, rain clouds were gathering. We had just enough time to choke down a sandwich while admiring the lake, then the rain began.
Brogan has outgrown his rain jacket, so I gave him mine and donned a vinyl poncho, which kept my upper body and Camelbak Sequoia 22 nice and dry. As the trail turned into a muddy river, I was also grateful for my waterproof Lowa boots.
It rained steady, and sometimes quite hard, all the way back to the Jeep. My husband hadn’t been able to find his rain jacket, so his “weather resistant” coat, (and clothes,) were quickly soaked. My son didn’t zip up his/my rain jacket because of his Camelbak, so he was soaked. One of our friends didn’t have any rain gear, and she was definitely soaked from the top of head to her toes.
But only a couple of thunderclaps, and no lightning or hail.
NOTES
I will definitely do this hike again, on a day without a high chance of rain in the forecast. It would have been nice to walk around the lake and take our time at the falls on the trail.
If you have a lifted 4×4 vehicle, park at the trailhead to save time and miles. There are quite a few parking spots available.
When I got home I ordered a cover for my day pack. We generally plan our hikes for mostly clear days, but if I wait for 100% fine weather to hike, my number of hikes will be limited.
I actually didn’t mind the rain, except that it started so early. If the sun had been out, the end of the trail would have been hot!
If you have a low clearance vehicle and are hiking on a busy summer Saturday, get to the trail parking by 7:30 am, or take the convenient and frequent shuttle from Nederland.