Lost Creek Wilderness 2019
We returned to Lost Creek in 2019 for a wilderness experience. We enjoy this park because of the solitude; no crowds. We made 2 x trips:
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Getting there at altitude and with backpacks can be a little rough but the exercise is good for you ☺ and being close to nature in peace can be invigorating. We have another web-page with pics of previous years visits to the Lost Creek Wilderness.
The trailhead starts at 7,750 feet and climbs to 11,272 before descending into the valley and Craig Creek (a climb of 3,522 feet) where we refill our bottles with very cold mountain spring water for the return hike.
16 mile day-hike to a high-altitude valleyPerfect day for a long day of hiking. We started early and hiked for 5 hrs. After relaxing and having a picnic at the summit, the return hike was 4 hrs. A good workout. You start "feeling it" past 10,000 feet: breathing becomes labored.
We found an old Native American arrowhead on the way to Craig Creek. A small arrowhead probably used for hunting squirrels and small game.
You don't expect to find a large running stream at this altitude. The creek is spring-fed and is home to Colorado cutthroat mountain trout. The trail can be gnarly in places. Just off the trail, you come to an old hunting cabin.
We love the landscape, peace, and tranquility here. We came to the same spot where we camped 3 yrs ago. The logs we left on the firepit were still there. Apparently no one has used this spot for camping in 3 yrs.
Wilderness Camping
We start on the trail for a few miles, then go off-trail to camp in solitude. A designated "wilderness area," you are allowed to camp anywhere (119,000 acres with 130 miles of trails). The hummingbirds were feasting on the wildflowers.
Scrambling up the rocks like mountain goats ☺ We set up campsite at 10,000 ft near the "holey tree."
In late June the temperature still drops to the 30's°F at night. Some of the streams still had patches of ice.
