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Link-up of three trails with an overnight detour to Eaglesmere Lake around 10,000 feet.


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Map Key

11.0

Miles

17.7

KM

Loop

10,432' 3,180 m

High

8,601' 2,622 m

Low

2,294' 699 m

Up

2,330' 710 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Overview

Along this route, you'll enjoy great hiking with views down the valley and established campsites around Eaglesmere Lake. This would be a fantastic trail to see the aspen leaves changing in late September/early October - the hillsides are covered in them.

Need to Know

Plan to go over and around the dead-fall trees. There's plenty of water at the two lakes and at streams midway through the Gore Range Trail section.

Description

This is a great loop through the Eagle's Nest Wilderness using the Eaglesmere Trail #61, Gore Range Trail, and Surprise Lake Trail #62.

The Eaglesmere Trail starts at a small trailhead that has legitimate parking for fewer than 10 cars. It begins with several short, steep sections in the first mile where it is definitely useful to have trekking poles. At the first fork, take a right (uphill). There are a several trees blown down along the way, and the trail is narrow and eroding in places where it follows the contour of a slope. There's no water on this part of the trail, but there are nice views of Cataract Lake down in the bottom of the valley from time to time.

Watch for a sign for the Gore Range Trail, which mentions Eaglesmere Lake. Go right to the lake, where there's a well-established camp spot near the shore. This is a pretty spot to spend the night if you are planning on making this a two-day hike.

In the morning, backtrack to the Eaglesmere Trail - Gore Range Trail junction and continue to your right, downhill on the Gore Range Trail. This trail is wider and nicer than Eaglesmere, but still has downed trees as of October 2016. This section goes sharply down and then back up, crossing a couple of streams on decent log bridges. Where the trail crosses rock, watch for cairns to show the way. After bottoming out at a creek, the trail heads back uphill - a couple of steep sections keep things interesting.

Take a left at the Surprise Lake Trail #62 sign, which leads within a stone's throw of the lake, which is small and pretty, with lily pads. The Surprise Lake Trail has some prolonged steep sections, but the trail is all downhill from here to the trailhead.

From the trailhead, continue on to your right and then turn left on the first road (almost immediately) - it's about 10 minutes back to your car if you parked at the Eaglesmere Trailhead.

Flora & Fauna

Elk hunters reported no elk sightings. There was lots of scat on the trail, but no mammals showed themselves. Signs at the Surprise Lake Trailhead state that moose are active in the area.

Contacts

Shared By:

Jodi CO

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 27 votes

#1

in Heeney

#703

Overall
  4.0 from 27 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
41%
3 Star
22%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
4%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Heeney

#144

in Colorado

#703

Overall
9 Views Last Month
17,693 Since Oct 20, 2016
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

Mountains in the distance above Lower Cataract Lake
Aug 1, 2018 near Vail, CO
Eaglesmere Lake.
Oct 23, 2016 near Vail, CO
Surprise Lake
Jun 21, 2015 near Vail, CO
The views from the Eaglesmere Trail #61 can be spectacular.
Dec 5, 2016 near Vail, CO
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 34 days ago
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Check-Ins

Jul 8, 2023
Dea Nguyen
stopped at the surprise lake for lunch around 12:30, continued around 1:30. 4 river crossings and a few streams — 8h 08m
Jul 7, 2023
Dea Nguyen
camp at eaglesmere lake for tonight — 3h 48m
Jul 14, 2022
David Grant
Jun 12, 2021
Cindi Hillemeyer
Sep 5, 2020
Lily Douglas
2 nights backpacking, 2nd night at upper cataract. absolutely gorgeous. go counter-clockwise, the surprise lake trail is quite steep.
Aug 3, 2020
Noreen Gardner
3h 00m
Jun 16, 2020
Kimberly Taylor
Sep 2, 2019
Erica Lanoy
Made it an overnight trip camped at eaglemere lakes and then continued the rest of the way up to surprise lake. The aspens were beautiful! 11mi
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