3-4 day loop in Colorado suggestions?

Lost Creek Wilderness? I have not hiked it but hear good things.

I agree with John.  LCW fits the bill with the exception of lakes.  Loads of streams. You can piece together trails to make a loop as you mention.  No permit.  No bear canister.  No problem!

I’m doing a 3 day, 2 night, 26-28 mile loop there 6/24-26.

http://www.craigfagerness.com/hikelostcreekwilderness/map.jpg

http://www.craigfagerness.com/Hike_lostcreekwilderness_page.html

Any other ideas?  I’ve heard a lot of great things about the LCW, but I’m looking for something a bit more dramatic and higher elevation–think high alpine lakes, glacial valleys, etc.

I am very biased, but you should definitely do the Cross Creek loop in HC Wilderness. You won’t regret it. Let me know if you need beta.

Tim,

I should have mentioned that our plan is to go July 1-4.  Do you think there will be too much snow that time of year?  How is the snow generally this year?  I recall two years ago wanting to do the trip but due to the snow levels, we decided to do a loop in the Indian Peaks instead.  That was around mid-July, I think.

Hey David,

Of course it all depends how this month goes, but you should be looking pretty good to go fourth of July weekend. My girlfriend and a few of her friends did almost the same identical trip last year during the same weekend and only encountered  some snow on Fall Creek Pass. The snow water equivalent at the Vail mountain site is looking pretty identical to last year, despite that we have been a little cooler and more wet this spring. We’re slightly behind schedule in terms of runoff, but with the dry and warmer weather we’ve been getting here lately, I’d say in a month you should be good to go on the high alpine trails.

Bring your fishing rod and explore. There is a lot to see back there.

I would take a look at this article from a frequent contributor to this site.

http://www.pmags.com/backpacking-loops-mags-favorites

From Boulder?  Flat Tops?  It’s a quick drive west on I-70 to Flat Tops and Glenwood Springs with it’s hot springs pool for your post-hike recovery.

EDIT: Ah, you said you want high alpine.  Nevermind…

I was going to post what Randy already did. Paul knows the area well.

Hey guys,

I just called the Holy Cross Ranger District and they said, as of June 22, there is quite a bit of snow once you are 3 miles in from the Missouri Lakes Trailhead and that Missouri Pass will likely be tough to cross until mid to late July.  Thoughts about this?  I’ll be leaving a week from tomorrow (July 1-4).  I’m wondering if there is another loop (about 30 miles or so) that I should consider?  I’ve done Indians Peaks, looking for something a bit further out from Denver.  Holy Cross seems so beautiful with all the high alpine lakes.  Is there anything else within 3-4 hrs driving distance from Denver, without having to go all the way down to the San Juans / Weminuche?

Rawah Wilderness. Near Ft. Collins.