National Park Service Rocky Mountain U.S. Department of the Interior Rocky Mountain National Park
Kawuneeche Valley Trail Guide
Colorado River NPS PHOTO / ANN SCHONLAU
Hiking Trails Adams Falls (East Inlet Trailhead) This easy Lulu City (Colorado River Trailhead) A flow- one-third mile hike leads to a small, pleasant water- ered field is all that remains of this once booming fall. If you go past the falls, you’ll soon come to a mining town. Pass by the remains of log cabins large, glaciated valley with a river and great views and look for tailings from the Shipler Mine about where moose are sometimes seen. You can find 2 miles into the trail. The trail parallels the Colorado many types of wildflowers in this area. (79 ft gain) River and passes meadows on this easy to moderate 7.4-mile round trip hike. (350 ft gain) Cascade Falls (North Inlet Trailhead) Photogenic Cascade Falls is 3.4 miles into the North Lulu City/Yellowstone Loop (Colorado River Inlet Trail. This easy hike passes through an open Trailhead) After passing Shipler’s cabins, you’ll meadow where marmots are often found and by come to a sign saying Lulu City to the left and Little a river that winds through a lodgepole pine forest. Yellowstone to the right. Stay right at the Y. Follow Fishing is good for small brook trout and an occa- the trail all the way to the Grand Ditch. Formed sional brown trout. Allow 3–4 hours. (300 ft gain) of stark gray volcanic rock, Little Yellowstone is a miniature version of the Grand Canyon of the Continental Divide Trail The Continental Divide Yellowstone. At the Grand Ditch take a left and National Scenic Trail was established by Congress follow the ditch for two miles until you see a sign in 1978 and stretches 3,100 miles from Canada to that says, “Stage Road, Lulu City.” Take the left and Mexico. Part of this trail crosses through some follow the trail down. At the bottom of the trail, remote areas of Rocky. For an easy, short hike, take a right and head toward Lulu City. The hike is traverse the section that crosses Onahu Creek and 13.8 miles in length and is a moderate to strenuous parallels a beautiful meadow in mixed forest. hike. (990 ft gain)
Coyote Valley Trail (Coyote Valley Trailhead) Shadow Mountain Lookout Trail (East Shore This 1 mile round trip, level trail is wheelchair and Trailhead) Visit an early fire lookout resting stroller accessible and has many benches for resting. near the summit of Shadow Mountain and see a Follow along the Colorado River in Kawuneeche fantastic view of Shadow Mountain Lake, Grand Valley. Elk can often be seen grazing on various Lake, and Lake Granby. This hike can be accessed sedges and grasses. Picnic at the tables at one end of from either the Grand Lake or Shadow Mountain the trail, or fish along the trail. Allow 45 minutes to Dam trailheads for the East Shore Trail. A small 1 hour for an enjoyable stroll. (level trail) fee is required for parking in the Arapaho National Recreation Area. Allow a minimum of 4–5 hours for Green Mountain Loop (Green Mountain or this hike. (1,533 ft gain) Onahu Trailhead) This trail passes along the lush, marshy Big Meadow, and through forests of Timber Lake (Timber Lake Trailhead) This is lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, subalpine fir, and a 4.8 mile hike to picturesque Timber Lake, which Engelmann spruce. Watch for moose and elk forag- sits at treeline at the foot of the Continental Divide ing in the meadow and explore the cabin ruins of and Mount Ida. There was a landslide two miles early settlers. This hike is 7.6 miles long and should beyond the trailhead. Be careful around the slide take 3.5–4 hours. (1100 ft gain) area. Hike above the point of release, not through the landslide. The hike around the landslide is ardu- Holzwarth Historic Site This is a one-half mile ous and exceptionally difficult, as it is steep, muddy, flat walk across the Kawuneeche Valley to the and slippery. It is not recommended for those who Holzwarth Trout Lodge and Historic Site, a rustic have difficulty with off-trail wilderness travel. Allow guest ranch created in the 1920s. (level trail, a minimum of 6–7 hours round-trip for this steep strollers okay) hike. (2060 ft gain)
Lake Irene Along Trail Ridge Road just south of Tonahutu Start from either West Portal Road in the Continental Divide at Milner Pass, this lovely Grand Lake or the Kawuneeche Visitor Center. subalpine lake is surrounded by tall pines, firs, and Leaving from the visitor center, the trailhead is at summer wildflowers, and is easily accessed from the the south end of the parking lot. The trail parallels picnic area. Strollers are welcome. the Tonahutu Creek uphill to Big Meadows, 4.2 miles from the trailhead. If you leave from West Portal Road, it is 5.4 miles from the trailhead. (680 ft gain)
KV-S 05-2017 Hazeline Kawuneeche Valley Trails Lake Flatiron Mountain 12 5 Michigan to 7 0 Lakes Thunder Mummy Pass Lake Pass Corral Creek Agnes Trailhead Lulu Mountain 1222 La Poudre Pass Mount 727 Desolation Richthofen k 12 0 1.6mi e Peaks 1.7mi e 2.6km r 2.7km C S e n le o N 1.9mi t t t s C 0.5mi 3.1km i w h T L w S lo a eleton 0.8km o p il r p Sk l e e i l cim W v n e e i M Gulch 1.1mi Y n R C 1.8km r 1.1mi 1.2mi k C
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Specimen u Medicine k o 2.5mi 0.9mi Mountain P Bow Curve 4.0km Mount Chiquita 1.4km 12 07 1 0 R la h c t E i Site of e ad D Lulu City h dge Ro Mount ac il Ri M C ra Cirrus 1.3mi T Mount Chapin 127 7 2.1km Alpine Visitor Center 12 5 01 M 7 Lake of Shipler 117 U Mountain the Clouds 2.7mi To Estes Park 5 5 To Estes Park 1.7mi 11 17 S 4.3km 2.7km
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R ST NAT ON STANC L AT ON A N Milner Pass
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