Hiking Project Logo

Isabelle Glacier Trail

 4.7 (19)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Ward
  5. Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Google Map

Length


2.1 Miles 3.3 Kilometers


1,129' 344 m

Ascent

-58' -18 m

Descent

11%

Avg Grade (6°)

42%

Max Grade (23°)

12,004' 3,659 m

High

10,905' 3,324 m

Low

Shared By Tom Robson

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“Hike to the source of South Saint Vrain Creek, Isabelle Glacier.”

— Tom Robson
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Camping is only permissible in this zone between December 1 and April 30. From May 1 through November 30, this area is day-use only.

Description

This trail is best attempted July through September. Snow-packed conditions can exist during the remaining months of the year.

Follow the Pawnee Pass Trail #907 as it climbs gradually for two miles through wooded terrain and into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The trail travels from Long Lake to Lake Isabelle, which sits just below the tree line.

At Lake Isabelle, follow the Isabelle Glacier Trail #908 as it forks left from the Pawnee Pass Trail. The Isabelle Glacier Trail continues along the north side of Lake Isabelle to Isabelle Glacier, the source of the South Saint Vrain Creek. The Isabelle Glacier Trail ends finally beside Isabelle Glacier in a very steep-walled cirque basin framed by Shoshone, Apache, and Navajo Peaks.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho National Forests - Clear Creek Ranger District

You & This Trail


Rate Quality


   Clear Rating

Rate Difficulty

Share This Trail

Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Sep 19, 2018
Rudy Brake
Sep 19, 2018
Ryan William
Sep 3, 2018
Michelle Parratt
Sep 2, 2018
Micki Balder
A fav! Sun sept 2, quiet goin up at 7, busy comin down. Mitchell trailhead to just before the final pitch and back. Even just to the lake is 10mi
Sep 1, 2018
Laura Hamman
A beautiful hike! We were lucky to get wonderful weather. Some rain around halfway and then nothing but sun. FYI - some trails were not well marked. — 6h 30m
Aug 29, 2018
Mason LeGrange
Aug 26, 2018
Kelly Phillips
Aug 14, 2018
James Cooper
Beautiful day!
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 19 votes

#2

in Brainard Lake Recreation Area

#70

Overall
  4.7 from 19 votes
5 Star
68%
4 Star
32%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#2

in Brainard Lake Recreati…

#18

in Colorado

#70

Overall
78 Views Last Month
5,814 Since May 5, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
0%
6%
19%
69%
6%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Isabelle Lake surrounded by the Indian Peaks - stunning.
Isabelle Lake surrounded by the Indian Peaks -…
 6
Climbing boulders before climbing the peaks.
Climbing boulders before climbing the peaks.
 3
A view of beautiful Lake Isabelle
A view of beautiful Lake Isabelle
 3
Lake Isabelle, early summer.
Lake Isabelle, early summer.
 3
The waterfall flowing from Lake Isabelle.
The waterfall flowing from Lake Isabelle.
 3
Lake Isabelle
Lake Isabelle
 3

0 Comments

Nearby Hikes

Alternative route vs taking the road when parking at the Brainard Gateway parking lot.
10.1 mi 16.2 km
Brainard Gateway Figure-8
 7
Nederland, CO
Leaving the Jasper Creek drainage for the Continental Divide on a sunny morning.
22.2 mi 35.8 km
Junco Lake Loop
 3
Fraser, CO
Lone Eagle Peak above Mirror - from the Crater Lake Trail
14.9 mi 24.0 km
Monarch Lake to Crater Lake
 53
Granby, CO
Fantastic fall colors so close to Boulder.
4.8 mi 7.7 km
Caribou Ranch
 15
Nederland, CO

Nearby Gems

gem

Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak

7
Granby, CO
gem

Long Lake

7
Nederland, CO

Hiking Project is part of the REI Co-op family,
where a life outdoors is a life well lived.

Shop REI Hiking