This may be the first time I've hiked to Lion lakes, which are in the Wild Basin region of RMNP. Previously I've hiked to nearby Thunder lake. The trail starts at the Wild Basin ranger station, following N St Vrain creek west up a gentle grade. At 1.8 miles the trail crosses Cony creek at Calypso Cascades, then at 2.6 miles it crosses Ouzel creek just below Ouzel falls. This 40' waterfall (sorry, no pix) is a popular day hike/picnic destination.
Early in the hike a chipmunk stopped by to say hello. He was so sociable that I had to shoo him away. I suspect that he was after my chocolate brownie Clif bar.
After the Lion lake/Thunder lake junction the trail gets steeper and passes through a spruce forest. The trail is well marked and easy to follow, so I really didn't need the teeter totter cairns.
Below Lion lake the trail levels off as it winds through a marshy meadow. All the vegetation was lush and green, with a few wildflowers and even one big mushroom near the trail.
Lion lake #1 is nearly 7 miles from the trailhead, and when I arrived the waters were calm and crystal clear. Postcard quality mountain peaks frame the lake. The orientation of these photos is: south (Tanima peak?), west (Mt Alice), north (Chiefs Head peak), and down (H2O).
A faint trail continues along the eastern side of Lion lake #1, leading to Lion lake #2. Here the cairns were genuinely useful as there are several paths to the lake. Below the lake are some rivulets, a small sheltered snowbank, and the world's most relaxed marmot.
To reach Lion lake #2 I needed to bushwhack through some willows, but it was well worth the effort. The lake looks like a gemstone, and the south slope of Chiefs Head peak boasts many striking rock spires.
Heading back to the trailhead I saw a rather shy mule deer, who hid behind a tree before ambling away.
Even with the bushwhacking this was a moderate hike, 14.5 miles RT with 2900' elevation gain. Once again I wore trail running shoes, which worked out pretty well though they're marginal on rocky sections.
Early in the hike a chipmunk stopped by to say hello. He was so sociable that I had to shoo him away. I suspect that he was after my chocolate brownie Clif bar.
After the Lion lake/Thunder lake junction the trail gets steeper and passes through a spruce forest. The trail is well marked and easy to follow, so I really didn't need the teeter totter cairns.
Below Lion lake the trail levels off as it winds through a marshy meadow. All the vegetation was lush and green, with a few wildflowers and even one big mushroom near the trail.
Lion lake #1 is nearly 7 miles from the trailhead, and when I arrived the waters were calm and crystal clear. Postcard quality mountain peaks frame the lake. The orientation of these photos is: south (Tanima peak?), west (Mt Alice), north (Chiefs Head peak), and down (H2O).
A faint trail continues along the eastern side of Lion lake #1, leading to Lion lake #2. Here the cairns were genuinely useful as there are several paths to the lake. Below the lake are some rivulets, a small sheltered snowbank, and the world's most relaxed marmot.
To reach Lion lake #2 I needed to bushwhack through some willows, but it was well worth the effort. The lake looks like a gemstone, and the south slope of Chiefs Head peak boasts many striking rock spires.
Heading back to the trailhead I saw a rather shy mule deer, who hid behind a tree before ambling away.
Even with the bushwhacking this was a moderate hike, 14.5 miles RT with 2900' elevation gain. Once again I wore trail running shoes, which worked out pretty well though they're marginal on rocky sections.
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