Fall in the Rockies

2013 is an unprecedented year for reds

Fall has finally arrived in Summit County. Now is the time to get out and wallow in the cooler temps, blazing blue skies and red-toned Aspens.

The Lilly Pad Lake Trail (Frisco Side) is a great Aspen walk. Another great trail to try near Silverthorne is the Ptarmigan Trail.

Lilly Pad Lake from Ryan Gulch Road

Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,619 ft - 9,915 ft (high pt is 10,003 ft)
Elevation gain: 314 ft (net), 900 ft (cumulative)
Bathroom at Trailhead: No
Date Hiked: 25 July 2012
Dogs: Technically on leash (wilderness)

Lilly Pad Lake

For those who live on the slopes of Buffalo Mountain in Silverthorne, an evening stroll to Lilly Pad Lake is a delightful way to escape the heat. Located at the far "up mountain" extent of Ryan Gulch Road, the trailhead with its large kiosk is impossible to miss. 

Trailhead

Fireweed and blue skies greet the hiker starting out for Lilly Pad Lake

If you have never done this trail before, be forewarned, the trail starts out heading sharply upwards along a wide dirt road. The angle of ascent will make you feel like you are climbing Buffalo Mountain and you will wish you had brought along your supplemental oxygen. Don't worry though, while steep, this section is short and the trail soon levels out before crossing a large clear-cut meadow with spectacular views of the Lake Dillon and the continental divide.  While shocking to some, this clear cut area is a necessary consequence to the ongoing Pine Bark Beetle infestation and without it, we would have no views on this trail. 

Where's the Moose? 

Typical crossing of one of the swampy areas of the trail

Once past the meadow, the trail dives into the trees and gets swampy.  You won't need fishing gaiters, however because there are wooden bridges or stones to keep your feet dry. In the same area are several Moose-friendly ponds to capture your interest. Do keep your eyes peeled for these tough-guys of the forest. They have been spotted more than once in the area. If you don't see a Moose, you'll for sure find wildflowers blooming in the damp soil and birds chirping melodiously from every shrub. 

Crossing a large talus pile

Typical dry segment in Aspens

For the remainder of the trip, the trail dries out and meanders up and down gracefully through Ponderosa or Aspen forest.  At times the shallow roots of the Aspen trees are exposed creating trip hazards so look down every once in a while or your'll find yourself admiring the roots up close! 

The junction with the Salt Lick Trail, which heads straight down Buffalo Mountain. 

A Clark's Nuthatch watches over the trail.

There are actually two lakes at the culmination of this trail. Lilly Pad Lake is large and shallow and shaded by many less-than-perfect Ponderosa Pines. There is also a smaller lake or pond that is actually covered in Lilly Pads and on this route is arrived at first, so don't be fooled. Head a little further down the trail and you'll come to the main lake.  The smaller lake is the more attractive, but be sure to visit both. 

The smaller lake filled with Lilly Pads 

A close up of some Lilly Pad flowers

Recall that you can also get to Lilly Pad Lake from the Frisco side. If you are new to the area or just visiting, take that route. It is far more scenic and will introduce to several of the biomes in the area. On the other hand, denizens of Wildernest will need no encouragement to take this route since it is literally out their back door.  

Lilly Pad Lake via Meadow Creek

Distance: 3 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,155 ft - 9,915 ft
Elevation Gain: 760 ft
Date Hiked: 4 August, 2011
Dogs: Off leash until the Eagles Nest Wilderness

Lilly Pad Lake with Buffalo Mountain in the background

This short hike near Frisco, CO is popular with the locals and their kids and also with visitors.  Both groups enjoy the varied microclimates, views of Lake Dillon, and two small lakes, one of which is fact still covered with Lilly Pads.

The trailhead

Starting out on the Meadow Creek Trail, which is very rocky.

The junction at 0.6 miles

There are two ways to get to Lilly Pad Lake.  The first is via Ryan Gulch Road.  This route is longer and flatter.  The second is via the Meadow Creek Trailhead, which is found down a dirt road paralleling I-70 from the first Frisco exit (heading west).  

Heading into the Lodgepole forest

A pile of downed Lodgepoles

 I did this hike mid-day as a general work out and it suited perfectly.  The trail is steep enough that you can really get your heart rate pumping but short enough to fit into an hour if you hustle.

Heading into the Fir forest

Meadow Creek from the bridge

 The trail starts out on the Meadow Creek Trail, which goes toward Eccles Pass, and begins to climb sharply over rough rocks.  At 0.6 miles the trail splits with the route going to Lilly Pad heading off to the right.  From this point on the path is much easier on the paws.

Crossing an open Sagebrush meadow

View of Mt. Guyot from a long meadow

What I found particularly interesting about this trail is that it passes through an Aspen Forest, a mostly dying Lodgepole Forest, open Sagebrush meadows, and a mixed Fir forest.  On one trail you can experience the 4 major biomes of Colorado, all within the span of 1.5 miles.  Toss in a few lovely views of Lake Dillon and you have a very nice outing indeed.

View of Lake Dillon

Lilly Pad Lake itself is not a pleasant as it used to be.  12 years ago it was covered in Lilly Pads, which of course gave it its name.  Those are gone now, but there is a small pond just north of the lake that has them, so be sure to go far enough or you'll miss out.   Most of the Lodepoles around the lake are dead, which looks less funeral in winter.  The bottom line is that this trail is really for the journey and not the destination.

Clouds reflected in Lilly Pad Lake

Lilly Pads on the small pond next to Lilly Pad Lake

 I constantly overhear waitress recommend this trail to visitors who want a short but scenic hike.  I can not disagree.  To get your feet wet in Colorado or take an afternoon stroll, Lilly Pad Lake is a great choice.

Lilly Pad Lake Snowshoe (via the Ryan Gulch Trailhead)

Distance: 3.4 miles round trip
Elevation: 9,619 ft - 9,915 ft (high pt is 10,003 ft)
Elevation gain: 314 ft (net), 900 ft (cumulative)
Dogs: Technically on leash (wilderness), but nobody does

Lilly Pad Lake

The winter trail to Lilly Pad Lake in Silverthorne is a short and serene winter outing. It is great for an afternoon dog walk or a post-death march must-I-really-get-off-couch excursion. The trail winds through an open Lodgepole forest, that is admittedly mostly beetle kill. Covered in snow, however, the stark brown trees lose their funereal aspect. There are at least two pleasant meadows en route and the lake, while surrounded by trees, is a pleasant if uninspiring destination.

The trailhead

The storage tank (covered in snow)

There are several routes to Lilly Pad Lake. This post profiles the route from the Ryan Gulch Road Trailhead, which also serves Buffalo Cabin. The Lilly Pad Lake trailhead is at the far end of the parking area and is marked by a large trail kiosk. The trail heads sharply upwards for a 300 ft elevation gain in only 0.17 miles. At the top of this lung buster is a small storage tank and metal tower. The best views on the trail occur in this short stint. Grays and Torreys, Lake Dillon, Square Top Mountain, and the booming Starbucks up highway 6 are all visible on a clear day.

Intersection with the Salt Lick Trail

One of the more scenic meadows

Other milestones along the trail include a nice meadow at 0.82 miles (9,846 ft), the junction with the Salt Lick Trail at 1.2 miles (10,003 ft), a very large meadow at 1.64 miles (9,927 ft), and finally the lake at 1.7 miles (9,915 ft). You may be able to tell by the list elevations, that this trail goes up and down quite a bit. If one is fresh, the hilly terrain features will provid a welcome cardio vascular boost. If one is recovering from a 14er, the small hills will cause unwelcome quad burn and impolite cursing in a foreign language.

Snow splattered Lodgepole Pines. This tree gets its name from Indians who used the narrow trunks as the center pole of their homes.

On this trip, Silverthorne had just woken up from a nice winter storm. Each narrow Lodgepole tree trunk was splattered with snow reminiscent of a girls-gone-wild whipped cream frat house initiation. Only the north sides of the trees were so decorated. Considering that I did this trail on Valentines Day, I was feeling very left out of Mother Nature's coed frivolity. The large heart that someone had stomped in an adjacent pond, made up for it however.

The lake was covered with 6 inches of snow. I was not brave enough to walk all the way out, but others had.

A Lilly Pad Lake snowshoe is not a stunner, but it is short, easy, and accessible. These are three things that should not be discounted. Sooner or later you'll be looking for a trail just like this.

Peak 1 (12,933 ft) of the Tenmile Range is just visible above the trees. On this snowy day we hardly saw it.