Indian Peaks Wilderness packs more alpine lakes per mile than almost anywhere on Colorado's Front Range, and most of the best ones are reachable as day hikes from the Brainard Lake Recreation Area near Ward. You get jagged Continental Divide peaks, wildflower meadows, and glacier-fed lakes without committing to an overnight. Here are six of the best day hikes, roughly from easiest to hardest, with the details you need to plan a trip from Boulder or Nederland.
1. Long Lake Loop (Easy, 2.5 miles)
Starting from the Long Lake Trailhead, this nearly flat loop circles a forest-rimmed lake with reflections of Niwot Ridge and the Divide. It is the best warm-up in the area, great for families, and a fine sunrise walk before the crowds arrive. The wildflowers along the inlet meadows in July are some of the densest in the region.
2. Mitchell Lake and Blue Lake (Moderate, 5 miles round trip)
From the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, this classic climbs gently past Mitchell Lake to the dramatic basin holding Blue Lake at 11,300 feet, tucked under Mount Toll. Snow lingers here into July, so check conditions. The upper basin is one of the most photogenic spots in Indian Peaks, with waterfalls feeding the lake in early summer.
3. Lake Isabelle (Moderate, 4.5 miles round trip)
The signature day hike of Indian Peaks. From Long Lake Trailhead you follow the South St. Vrain Trail past Long Lake to Lake Isabelle, sitting beneath Navajo, Apache, and Shoshoni peaks. Go in June and early July for the full lake before it draws down later in summer for irrigation. The wildflower meadow below the lake peaks in mid-July.
4. Diamond Lake (Moderate, 5.5 miles round trip)
On the south side near the Fourth of July Trailhead above Eldora, the trail to Diamond Lake crosses a waterfall on Middle Boulder Creek before climbing into a flower-filled basin. It is quieter than the Brainard Lake trails and a good choice when the Long Lake lot is full.
5. Pawnee Pass (Strenuous, 9 miles round trip)
For a big day, push past Lake Isabelle and switchback up to Pawnee Pass at 12,541 feet on the Continental Divide. The views east over Lake Isabelle and west toward Pawnee Lake are enormous. Start at dawn and turn around by late morning to beat afternoon thunderstorms, which build over the Divide almost daily in summer.
6. Lake Dorothy via Arapaho Pass (Strenuous, 7 miles round trip)
From the Fourth of July Trailhead, climb past the historic Fourth of July Mine to Arapaho Pass, then drop slightly to Lake Dorothy, the highest named lake in the wilderness at over 12,000 feet, framed by Mount Neva. This route shows off the rugged southern peaks and far fewer people than the Brainard side.
What to Know Before You Go
A few essentials apply to every trail here:
- Brainard Lake timed entry: In summer you need a vehicle reservation for the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, and the Long Lake and Mitchell Lake lots fill before 7 a.m. on weekends.
- Weather: Be off exposed passes by noon because of lightning risk.
- Dogs: Must be leashed at all times within the wilderness and Brainard Lake area.
- Season: High trails hold snow into early July and reopen with wildflowers through August.
If these day hikes leave you wanting more, the same trail network makes a superb first overnight. Our Indian Peaks Wilderness weekend backpacking guide turns Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass into a two-day loop with a Continental Divide camp.
