Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest
Blue Lake via Mitchell Lake Trail #912

Blue Lake Trail to: (one way)

• Mitchell Lake: 0.9 miles
• Blue Lake: 2.5 miles

Elevations:

• 10,500' at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead
• 10,700' at Mitchell Lake
• 11,300' at Blue Lake

This trail sees extremely heavy use from July through October (open year round) and is rated as More Difficult.

USGS Maps: Ward quads

Trailhead Location: Mitchell Lake Trailhead (sometimes called Mitchell Creek Trailhead) is within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Turn west onto the Brainard Lake Road (County Road 102 or National Forest System Road 112) off of Highway 72, 13 miles north of Nederland, just north of the town of Ward. Travel approximately five miles on the paved road to Brainard Lake. Proceed west past the lake and turn right onto the signed side-road to the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, a half-mile up, and take the next right where the road to the Long Lake Trailhead forks left. Two trails start at this trailhead. Mitchell Lake Trail is the one to the west. The entrance to Brainard Lake is closed two miles off of Hwy 72 from sometime in October through late June or early July due to snow conditions. Be careful around Brainard Lake Recreation Area because of day use fees.

To reach Blue Lake, follow the wooded Mitchell Lake Trail. It enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness near the bridge across Mitchell Creek, then continues on a good trail fora half mile to Mitchell Lake. The trail follows along side the lake, crossing a new bridge over the inlet. Another mile and a half of trail takes you up a steep slope, then along the creek in an open valley to Blue Lake, which is right at treeline below Mount Toll (elevation 12,979'), a cone-shaped pinnacle on the Continental Divide. When snow covered, it is very easy to lose the trail - close attention is necessary.

Camping along this trail is allowed December 1 to April 30. From May 1 to November 30 this area is for day-use only.