Hiking Project Logo

Hike past Gilpin Lake to eventually reach the Gold Creek Lake Trail.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

5.7

Miles

9.1

KM

Point to Point

10,773' 3,284 m

High

8,475' 2,583 m

Low

2,298' 700 m

Up

654' 199 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers

Be sure to brush up on you Wilderness rules and regulations that limit group size and backcountry camping.

Description

Bridge-free high-altitude stream crossings can make this trail a challenge in spring and early summer when the snow is still melting, so it's best to take this one in the hiking season.

Starting at the Slavonia Trailhead, take the Gilpin Trail to the left at the first fork. Watch for moose in the pond on the left about 1/4 mile up the trail. Keep right when you see the trail sign for Mica Basin, which heads up a valley to the west.

After the stream crossing around 9,800 feet, the trail gets steeper as it goes up to Gilpin Lake, which may be ice-covered into the summer.

Continue past the lake, and over a pass to intersect with Gold Creek Lake Trail and finish the Zirkel Circle. If the longer route is a bit much, you can either head back the way you came or stop to spend the night, providing you have the proper permits.

Flora & Fauna

Moose, wild raspberries, columbine

Contacts

Shared By:

Jodi CO

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 7 votes

#7061

Overall
  4.6 from 7 votes
5 Star
71%
4 Star
14%
3 Star
14%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#513

in Colorado

#7,061

Overall
3 Views Last Month
3,693 Since Jun 21, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

13%
0%
13%
25%
50%
0%

Photos

Looking down on Gilpin Lake from halfway up the pass.
Jun 26, 2018 near Walden, CO
Heading up to Gilpin Lake, late June.
Jun 26, 2018 near Walden, CO
Coming down to Gilpin Lake.
Jul 19, 2022 near Walden, CO
Lower part of the falls at about 1.75 miles in.
Sep 16, 2018 near Walden, CO
Near stream crossing
Jul 19, 2022 near Walden, CO
Gilpin Lake on the Zirkel Circle route (we hiked it counterclockwise)
Aug 5, 2022 near Walden, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.