Comments, Backcountry Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park, Backcountry Campsites in the Wild Basin Area. Well-spaced trees create good viewing lanes for wildlife on this fast stretch. Set up camp at the designated 12 campsites. It continues on variously steep grades up the north side of a widening valley. At roughly 2.5 miles from the trailhead you'll begin passing through a section of trail that was burned during the Ouzel Fire, which was started by a lightning strike on August 9, 1978. Pear Lake. Obtain water from North St. Vrain Creek. Lakes from the Wild Basin Entrance. Because it was in a low risk zone the national park allowed the low intensity fire to smolder. The Trail Guide to Finch Lake and Pear Lake includes a trail description, photographs of the trails, comments from our hikes, mileage data, custom Wild Basin topo map, and Finch Lake Trail - Pear Lake Trail tracklog on a geo-pdf map. Note: just watch your footing up there as the snow is deep. Headed up to RMNP for another quick overnight in Wild Basin. The lake is calm and tranquil, and can be accessed at many points with beach-like gravel and sand shores. A food storage cable is about 8 steps past the spur to site #1. Pear Lake is a difficult 7-mile hike with excellent campsites and frequent evening rises through the summer. Finch Lake Trail past barren Finch Lake is called Pear Lake Trail. Head Count (how many other hikers I saw): Most people were at Finch Lake, including campers, but there were a few at Pear Lake as well.Nobody at Hutcheson Lakes. Looming just above the lake is 13,176-foot Mt. Escape the crowds and enjoy the serene scenery around Pear Lake in the remote southern portion of Wild Basin. The bridge is out so we headed back down to the Lion Lake Junction. Enos Mills, the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park," enjoyed walking to Lily Lake from his nearby cabin. The lake is bordered by Copeland Mountain on the right hand side and Elk Tooth cropping up on the left. Cross Pear Creek on a plank to reach the site on the north side of the lake. Saw a few other hikers and some horses on the trail, but otherwise fairly empty. 6.2: Continue straight (slight right) at the Pear Lake Ranger Station split off. I did my last hike of the season to Pear Lake in RMNP. You can hear the water rushing into the lake on the western end. The site is located along the unimproved, backcountry campsite access trail in a mixed aspen-spruce-lodgepole forest. We stayed at the Pear Lake campsite, and there was still a bit of snow, but a couple dry, flat spots for the tent. [Large version (2975 KB)] Rocky Mountain National Park: The High Peaks The trail winds steeply down for .25 miles to the east shore of Finch Lake (4.35 miles), with easier access from the north shore at 4.6 miles (9,912'). However, I spent most of the hike to the lake feeling pretty bad. Trail Photos We were the only ones at Pear Lake, it was great. We went on to Pear Lake and had to go through a lot of snow once we left Finch Lake. Hiking Allenspark & Finch Lake-Pear Lake Trails in Winter. Elk Tooth (12,848 ft, left) and Mt. Update on The Vintage Club. Look for wildflowers in the spring and early summer. My tent is the tiny red speck on the right. Some suckers also inhabit the streams and lakes. The dam was removed in 1988 leaving a noticeable scar along the boulders and cliff sides around Pear Lake. The North St Vrain site is located 3.5 miles from Wild Basin Trailhead at 9,560'. My husband and I were surprised at how few people we encountered on the trail. There is 1 individual site and no privy. Shortly thereafter the trail begins making a sharp descent down towards Finch Lake. Pear Lake was used as a reservoir at one time, but has been more recently restored to its natural water level. Pear Lake was used as a reservoir at one time, but has been more recently restored to its natural water level. August 22, 2020. Will not show on comments list. Populations of at least four species of trout exist in the park - brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat. Although you can barely tell today, a dam once stood at Pear Lake. Update on Racketeering With Revolvers. Check out these 10 can't-miss spots. There are 2 individual sites, 1 group site, and a privy. Note that park entrance fees are applied separately and in full. This is a wonderful hike that really shouldn't be missed, but be ready to devote a full day. Definitely worth the hike and challenging conditions! The Finch Lake Trailhead is located 1.8 miles from the entrance station on the left-hand side of the road. Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas: Pear Lake: The Finch Lake - Pear Lake Trail system leads through the south end of Wild Basin and Rocky Mountain National Park. Obtain water from Pear Creek. A food storage cable is located 20 steps up the access trail in a small clearing on the left, and parallel to the trail. Fishing is permitted in Finch Lake, Pear Lake and all related tributaries with a valid Colorado fishing license. Obtain water from North St. Vrain Creek. We aren't the fastest hikers and we do take breaks so I'm sure it can be done in less time, but it is 12 miles and about 2100 feet of elevation gain. All rights reserved. Enos Mills, the "father of Rocky Mountain National Park," enjoyed walking to Lily Lake … The following morning we did the very short hike up to Pear Lake and were awarded with breathtaking scenery with perfectly blue skies. Once at the top of the ridge the trail begins tracing through a very beautiful montane forest. Obtain water from North St. Vrain Creek, approximately 200 yards downhill from the site. Pear Lake Campsite in Rocky Mountain National Park Our campsite summer 2020 at Pear Lake 062 campground in Rocky Mountain National Park Pear Lake was a vision and we were immediately pleased with our decision to book a campsite there. The Pear Lake site (10,582') is located 6.3 miles from Finch Lake Trailhead, or 7.0 miles from Wild Basin Trailhead. The Finch Lake trail is a great choice for those who prefer solitude as it’s one of the lesser traveled trails in the Wild Basin region of RMNP. I've hiked a bunch of places in RMNP, and this was by far the most beautiful! Due to rapidly changing conditions associated with the mountain pine beetle infestation and resulting dead trees that pose potential hazards, our requirements and regulations associated with campsites and camping are also changing rapidly. The campsites at Pear Creek are located .25 miles below Pear Lake. My tent is the tiny red speck on the right. Finch Lake - Pear Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park. From there you can follow the St. Vrain Creek to Ouzel Lake, Bluebird Lake, Thunder Lake, and Pear Lake.Each lake has its own special qualities, which usually include dramatic mountain scenery and massive boulder-laced shoreline. Sandbeach Lake.00 .00 Sandbeach Lake Trailhead 1.10 2.40 Bridge at Campers Crk 1.00 3.40 Bridge at Hunters Crk.90 4.30 Sandbeach Lake interval mile location Finch - Pear Lake - from Finch Lake Trailhead.00 .00 Finch Lake Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park is an American national park located approximately 76 mi (122 km) northwest of Denver International Airport in north-central Colorado, within the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.The park is situated between the towns of Estes Park to the east and Grand Lake to the west. The trail from Finch to Pear lake gets very few foot traffic due to the distance of the hike making it an excellent place to see wildlife. Hiked over 17 miles, 3,700 feet of elevation gain, 6 lakes, 1 waterfall, in the northwest section of Wild Basin in Rocky Mountain National Park, Allenspark, Colorado. Allenspark Trail is a a trail that starts at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park in Allenspark, CO. Allenspark Trail is a a trail that starts at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park in Allenspark, CO. Just past Finch Lake the trail becomes quite wet, marshy and muddy, but it's not too problematic if you're careful where you step. These almost always will require a 15+ mile hike. Sandbeach Lake.00 .00 Sandbeach Lake Trailhead 1.10 2.40 Bridge at Campers Crk 1.00 3.40 Bridge at Hunters Crk.90 4.30 Sandbeach Lake interval mile location Finch - Pear Lake - from Finch Lake Trailhead.00 .00 Finch Lake Trailhead Pear Lake, named for its shape, is reached by hiking 6.6 miles on Finch Lake Trail, passing Finch Lake Campsite. To reach the trailhead from Estes Park, drive 12.6 miles south on Colorado Highway 7 to the Wild Basin Road junction and turn right. The Pear Creek site is located 6.4 miles from Finch Lake Trailhead, or 7.1 miles from Wild Basin Trailhead at 10,550'. There are several options for destinations from the trail, and that day we were aiming for Ouzel Falls. It’s a 6.5 mile, demanding hike through some of the best wildflower country in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mileage: Finch Lake: 8.6 miles roundtrip from trailhead; Pear Lake: 12.4 miles roundtrip from trailhead; Hutcheson Lakes: 16 miles roundtrip from trailhead. ", "Started out heading to Bluebird Lake, but only got as far as Ouzel Falls. At just over 1.9 miles hikers will reach an opening in the canopy that offers an outstanding view of 13,911-foot Mount Meeker towards the northwest. Pear Lake, there is no established trail, so this hike necessitates some basic route-finding. Cross Pear Creek on a … Only 51 of the 147 lakes in the Park have reproducing populations of fish. The sites are located in a mixed pine-spruce-fir forest on the north shore of Finch Lake. Highest Elevation: 10,165 ( Total Elevation gain around 1900Ft) Trail Length: Officially 8.2 miles but we wandered around the lake a lot so we ended up with 9 miles total, it took us approx. Copeland off towards the west. Fires are prohibited. Getting to Finch wasn't too bad. I did my last hike of the season to Pear Lake in RMNP. Stoves only. The trail from Finch to Pear lake gets very few foot traffic due to the distance of the hike making it an excellent place to see wildlife. Fifth Lake * Paradise Creek drainage * Hidden Valley Beaver Ponds and Hidden Valley Creek (open 8/1 to 3/31) * Pear Lake and Creek * Lake Husted * Roaring River * Lake Louise * Sandbeach Lake and Creek * Lawn Lake * Spruce Lake * Lily Lake * Timber Lake and Creek * * Loomis Lake * Upper Hutchenson Lake * Lost Lake * * Greenback Cutthroat Trout Thunder Lake and Wild Basin – The Western Edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. Obtain water from Finch Lake or. I love this hike as you pass Finch lake and a really cool lily pond. From the Finch Lake Trailhead in Wild Basin, Pear Lake is a moderate 7.0-mile hike each way to an elevation of 10.582 feet, with an elevation gain of 2,102 feet. There is 1 individual site and no privy. The ridge the trail branching off to the left and runs perpendicular to the indicated site as possible to left... Impact Usage around Pear Lake - Pear Lake in RMNP the best views from! 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