Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest
Pawnee Pass Trail #907

Long Lake Trailhead to (one way):

• Long Lake: .2 miles
• Jean Lunning Trail: 1.2 miles
• Lake Isabelle: 2.1 miles
• Pawnee Pass: 4.6 miles

Elevations:

• Long Lake Trailhead: 10,500'
• Lake Isabelle: 10,868'
• Pawnee Pass: 12,541'

This trail is very heavily used from June through October (open year round) and is rated as Easiest to Most difficult

USGS Maps: Ward and Monarch Lake Quads

Trailhead Location: The Long Lake Trailhead is within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, off of Highway 72, 13 miles north of Nederland, just north of the town of Ward. Turn west onto the Brainard Lake Road (a.k.a. County Road 102, National Forest System Road 112 - closed at halfway point from late October through late June or early July). Travel approximately five miles on the paved road to Brainard Lake. The Long Lake Trailhead is a half mile up the left fork of a side road that turns off at the west end of Brainard Lake. Long Lake can also be reached via the Niwot Cutoff Trail from the Niwot Cutoff Trailhead near the Niwot Mountain Picnic Area on the west end of Brainard Lake.

Be careful around the Brainard Lake Recreation Area because of day use fees.

Trail Information: The first quarter mile of the Pawnee Pass Trail #907 to Long Lake is a very heavily used trail. At the east end of Long Lake, the Jean Lunning Trail turns left (south). The Pawnee Pass Trail enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness and continues along Long Lake as a wide, fairly flat trail, and a quarter-mile beyond the end of the lake, meets the Jean Lunning Trail again. The three mile loop around Long Lake on the Pawnee Pass and Jean Lunning Trails is an easy weekend day trail..

Beyond the Jean Lunning Trail junction, the Pawnee Pass Trail continues up the valley at a gentle grade through wooded terrain, then makes a short climb to Lake Isabelle, just below treeline. At the east end of Lake Isabelle, the Isabelle Glacier Trail continues along the north shore of Lake Isabelle to the source of the South St. Vrain Creek - Isabelle Glacier.

The Pawnee Pass Trail turns right (north) and climbs on a switchback trail. The trail first crosses a couple creeks and circles under a ridge above Lake Isabelle, then gains a wide bench above treeline through a series of short switchbacks. There is another steep switchback pitch, which may hold snow late into the summer, to the top of Pawnee Pass (elevation 12,541 feet). Continuing westward on the Pawnee Pass Trail (Trail #1 on the west side of the Divide) would take you 9.75 miles to Monarch Lake via the Cascade Creek Trail.

Backcountry camping in the Indian Peaks Wilderness is by permit only. Camping is permitted along this trail from December 1 to April 30 only. Contact the Boulder Ranger District (303-541-2500) for more information.