Visiting Lone Eagle Peak requires an extremely long day hike or an overnight, but it’s certainly worth the effort to visit this fantastic piece of Colorado scenery. Finally reaching Mirror Lake again, we enjoyed one of the best picnic spots in Colorado. I reached the highpoint of the ridge, forgetting that Lone Eagle‘s summit is the lowpoint of the ridge. It has remarkable snow-peaked mountains, pine trees, and incredible lake. Overnight permits are required to camp in the Indian Peaks backcountry. The hike to the base of Lone Eagle Peak starts out at Monarch Lake Trailhead via Cascade Creek Trail. The day continued to be bluebird, and we were in no hurry to get back to the lake. I can’t think of a better person to share this stout challenge with. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. It is about 8 miles. Reflecting back now, I really think this is one of the best hidden gem spots I’ve been to in these parts. That was really fun to walk down through. Lone Eagle is by far the best location at Keystone. Lone Eagle Peak is one of those hidden gems, a nearly 12,000' jagged peak that rises above Mirror and Crater Lakes. From the east: access the Brainard Lake Recreation Area via the Peak-to-Peak Highway (northwest of Denver and north of Nederland). Views from here were beautiful. with this peak offering breath taking views for those that choose to reach the summit, lone eagle peak itself is an obvious trail highlight. With the height of 11,946 ft (3,641 m), the peak is dominating the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Arapaho National Forest. Maybe in this life or the next, the 3 of us will get a climb in together . Man, it’s quite a treat to re-live the memories through your exquisite story-telling. Our map takes you as far as Mirror Lake, and for most people, this is a good place to turn around. This beautiful reflection makes it one of the most scenic views in Colorado. It’s so close to Denver, but the ruggedness and remoteness makes it feel a million miles away. (Zambo), The summit of Lone Eagle is one of a kind. A series of feint climbers’ trails ascend towards the sweeping Northwest Face beyond Mirror Lake. After Cascade Falls, the trail comes to a junction and a trail marker; continue onto Crater Lake Trail. Maybe it was Josh’s ever-increasing excitement for the route ahead. Lone Rabbit is the distinct couloir that frames the right side of Lone Eagle Peak. Ya, it’s a really cool area, for sure. Up to this point, the route was an interesting mix of both claustrophobic passages and big exposure, but with somewhat limited views. (Josh), Views toward the Shoshone-Apache Connecting wall. (See Primary Image) The peaks here all surround Crater Lake, and the views of all the peaks are astounding from this trail. Anyway, as great as the history of the mountain is, the downside of today is the approach. A long week of work, an accelerating head cold, and the stress of leaving on a 6 week international trip in just 7 days was taking its toll. Beware: this award can be lost! It was windy when we did the hike. This turned out to be a good decision, as we did not see them again for the remainder of the day. An east-trending ridge (or shoulder) blocks easy passage to the easier descent slopes beyond. From there, we picked a line that looked good and just went for it. Lone Eagle Peak can be accessed from the East side of the Divide via Pawnee Pass Trail. (Josh). We had been caught by another party just as I started the chimney, so we opted to simul climb this section in an effort to move fast and mitigate rock fall potential. No real snow to contend with, although there was still quite a lot of residual snow fields lining this north-facing cirque. (Josh). The 11,946-foot (3,641 m) peak is located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of Arapaho National Forest, 12.4 miles (19.9 km) northeast by north (bearing 37°) of the Town of Fraser in Grand County, Colorado, United States. Join/Login. Thanks Brian! Car door opens. That cirque has gotta be top 5 in CO, top 2 in Frange (behind Longs/Meeker). The original Lone Eagle. Angry Bro: “We’ve been looking for HOURS!! After crossing a wooden bridge, you are met with the first of many beautiful waterfalls. First floor is nice. Lone Eagle Peak is named after the Lone Eagle himself, Charles Lindbergh. The whole area is just stunning. Interagency annual passes are also accepted. We spent a good bit of time up there. The goal is to find to series of 4th / low 5th class gullyies heading up a prominent notch. 8 miles out into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, solitude and peace and quiet awaits. Lone Eagle Peak is a jaw-dropping sight, and is one of the most awe inspiring peaks in the state. But when he suggested Lone Eagle Peak for the 2019 version, I didn’t really know much about it. As it turns out, I wasn’t exactly wrong about any of those things, I just didn’t have the full appreciation of how great this mountain really is. Here’s hoping for a threesome sometime soon. If you feel adventurous, the Lone Eagle Peak hike is a long and rugged trail. The mountain was named in honor of aviator Charles Lindbergh who was often called a ‘lone eagle.’ Or maybe I just really didn’t want to be in the same category of tool as Angry Bro & Sleeping Bro. This also highlights the potential bail-off options below should they become necessary. As Josh and I drove the long stretch of shoreline along Lake Granby the night before, I was silently complaining to myself the whole way, thinking about this upcoming hoof. Once you stay at Lone Eagle you won’t want to stay anywhere else. But as we ascended, we found the grade to be spot-on. There are 10-11 pitches (depending on how you count), each with their own interesting flavor. Hell of a write up with great photos to add. Marvelous hike featuring numerous waterfalls and beautiful landscapes. This 5.7 climb promised a pretty healthy mix of all the best Colorado Mountaineering has to offer: long scrambling, alpine climbing pitches on excellent rock, out of this world exposure, and one of the coolest summits around. !”, Angry Bro: “Because you never leave your hiking partner on the trail….. No, you just DON’T do it!”, More dejected mumbling; rapidly approaching female whining noises, Angry Bro: “It’s 10:00. Prepare for traveling over rocks, roots and even shallow water runoff streams. Thanks Brian! (Zambo). The spacious trailhead at the Gateway is host to The most feasible descent option was to take the 4th class Solo Flight Route to get back to the lake. Permits are limited and must be obtained in advance for camping dates 6/1-9/15. Josh leading the 6th pitch. Josh and I always seem to whip up at least one huge outing every summer season. Intrepid visitors can opt to get a permit (reserve in advance for summer weekends) to backpack in and spend the night at the lake. on Lone Eagle Peak: North Face Climb & Solo Flight Descent, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Lone Eagle Peak: North Face Climb & Solo Flight Descent. Also along the trail, be aware that there is an abundance of wildlife in this area; moose, elk, and black bears are some of the more common. We ascended the right of two north facing, loose gullies leading to the crest of this east ridge. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Ours had a few 5.0 moves I’d say, plus the rock was loose. (Josh), Looking ahead now. Considering we had not ascended it, we took a lot of time studying online beta to make sure we got it right. Looks like an amazing day. Cascade Falls is the largest waterfall on this hike and is comprised of four separate waterfalls! (Zambo). Really fun to re-live it, albeit two months later. Cascade falls was the most impressive waterfall among the other falls I've seen. Lone Eagle Peak lies in the rugged Indian Peaks Wilderness, roughly south of Rocky Mountain National Park. While it isn’t among the tallest of the peaks in this region, at 11,940 ft (3,640 m), its unique shape and rugged granite face make it a dominant feature in the skyline of this remote area. Ya I think you’d really like this area. The Denver & Interurban Railroad was offering a $1,000 prize to any pilot who could land a plan on St. Vrain Glacier at the time. I contemplated throwing in the towel right then and there, but something held me back. The mountain was named in honor of aviator Charles Lindbergh who was often called a ‘lone eagle.’ The best time to hike this trail is from June until September. I was surprised that they were all in just one hike. All the while, the exposure below grew considerably. The summit was incredible. There was a time when I used to run to keep fit for rock climbing before it became an end in itself, but it has been difficult finding a consistent climbing partner in the US and running has dominated my outdoor pursuits. Trail: North Face, Class 5.7 , ~22 miles, ~6500 ft elevation gain. His confidence only took him so far. Historical Weather. I knew it was a cool looking mountain deep in the heart of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. He also rightly suspected that Lindbergh had no plans to actually take off again once he landed. The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is GRAND LAKE 6 which is approximately 13 miles away and has an elevation of 8,288 feet (3,602 feet lower than Lone Eagle Peak). (!) An abundance of loose rock on pitches 5, 7 & 8. The trail follows along the north side of Monarch Lake until it veers up along Buchanan Creek. That cirque is mythic. To begin the climb, head up the steep grass and scree slope that lies at the lower left side of Lone Eagle. Not to be confused with the famous Crater Lake in Oregon, or any of the other lakes with the same name, Crater Lake in Indian Peaks is a bowl-shaped lake that also offers spectacular views of Lone Eagle Peak. Lone Eagle Peak is a mountain summit in the Indian Peaks of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. Thanks John! We stopped there to snap the requisite pics, eat some breakfast, fill up waters, and make final prep for the day. Lone Eagle #3034 is a luxurious and spacious 3 bedroom property that is ski in/ski out, the closest property to the lifts in Keystone. These six peaks all are gorgeous, but none of them compare to the glory of Lone Eagle Peak from Crater and Mirror Lakes. Fearing bears (apparently), his party decided to come all the way back to the parking lot to try to find him. We crossed maybe 4-5 of these, of varying difficulty and length. The video highlights our climb up the "fourth class" scramble called Solo Flight which is used to descend Lone Eagle Peak from the classic North Face route (5.7). (Zambo). !”, Indiscriminate female screaming from the other side of the parking lot, Angry Bro: “HE’S HEEEERE!! A great idea of the composition of pitches #7 & 8. A short down-climb (or more likely, rappel) from the crux belay led to some steep grassy slopes above Crater Lake. This couloir immediately catches the eye of any ski mountaineer, and it is one of the best pure couloir climbs and descents on the Front Range. Route Start: Once you get to the top of the ravine (that is between the trees and Lone Eagle) it begins to fatten out and turn into a scree field, look for the 5th class scramble up a ledgy black rock section with a gap in the trees at the top. , Your email address will not be published. As much fun as this route was, I find it’s always a nice moment when you are officially off of no-fall terrain. For an added bonus, located further up the trail is Crater Lake (a large glacier-fed alpine lake with a stunning waterfall in the far corner). (Zambo), Meandering down the long grassy slopes back towards the lakes. Lone Eagle Peak is part of the Indian Peaks Wilderness area, south of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The hike starts at Big Sky's Mountain Village at 7,500' and follows mellow … (Josh), Josh nearing the top of the 10th pitch. The hike is not technical, but the length and elevation gain make it a challenge for even seasoned hikers. ), and hiked all the way back to their camp, wherever that was. I knew it was a cool looking mountain deep in the heart of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Visitors to Mirror Lake, Colorado, have little doubt as to how this stunning body of water received its name.