Yesterday we returned from a single-night backpacking trip to Lost Lake near Nederland via Hessie Trailhead, located just outside of Indian Peaks Wilderness. We originally planned Diamond Lake for the trip, but didn’t secure the wilderness permit in time. Luckily, Lost Lake doesn’t mandate a permit. Also, this was a kid-centered trip, since my friend and I were bringing our six-year-old boys who had never backpacked before. So, this trail turned out to be a better alternative after all, with a slightly shorter length and half the elevation gain.
Here’s a quick summary of the trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/lost-lake-via-hessie-trail (check out the All Trails App for more details)
-Distance: 4 miles out and back (8 miles total), though we clocked closer to 4.7 miles.
–Elevation gain: 830 Ft.
–Wilderness Permit: Not needed (YAY!)
–Camping spots: First come first serve, with 9 sites total available.
-Parking: There’s limited parking at the trailhead, so unless you get there early (especially on a weekend), I would suggest the Free Shuttle that runs from Nederland High School everyday, every 15 minutes. Verify times at https://www.bouldercounty.org/open-space/parks-and-trails/hessie-trailhead/ ). Note: At the time of writing this (August), it ran from 6:30 AM to 6 PM daily.
-Trail characteristics: Lots of loose rocks for the first half. Wildflowers when in season, along with Aspen groves and Pines, providing plenty of shade. Waterfalls and river/creek crossings. Alpine Lake.
We ended up parking at Nederland High School and taking the Free Shuttle. Parking was also free and there was no fear of being towed/fined, which was a relief. We hopped onboard with all our gear (and a huge Labrador). The driver was so sweet and helpful. It was about a ten minute drive up the road to where we unloaded. Once off the shuttle, we still had another mile (or so) to trek–past a pond, some parking spots for the lucky few, and beyond the historic Hessie Townsite, before we finally reached the trailhead.
The first section is a pretty wide and gravely trail that gradually gains elevation and crosses a creek via a bridge, before narrowing. I don’t recall any super steep sections or dangerous drop-offs overall, which as a mom saved me my nerves. Closely examine the surrounding peaks, as you should be able to spot the small ski resort of Eldora atop one of them.
After about 2 miles, we gauged the “halfway” point as the first waterfall, which cascades down the rocky slope, before spilling over a cliff around 30 feet high. This served as the perfect picnic stop, with the sound of rushing water, refreshing mist, gorgeous vantage point and natural stone “seating” for the kids, as well as the shade provided by pines. There were others with the same idea, resulting in the trail being pretty busy, given it was a Saturday in Summer. It served as good people watching at least! Many of them tried to “boulder hop” across the river, just before the falls for the ideal photo opt…we witnessed at least one guy fall in the process. Luckily he was ok, but in my humble opinion, not worth the few likes on Instagram. Frankly it prompted a rich discussion around safety with our children–and what NOT to do.
The last half of the trail was more shaded, and there were a couple bridges/stone crossings. We also encountered dozens of cream and blood-orange spotted toadstools growing on the forest floor. Some were the size of dinner plates! Lastly, we passed yet another waterfall worth exploring. It was just down a steep grade and off the main trail slightly, yet still in view (you may opt to leave your heavy packs at the trail, like we did, to save hauling energy).
Once at the lake, we checked out the first-come-first-serve campsites. And we had pick-of-the-draw, which surprised us with the sheer volume of foot traffic on the way up (apparently mostly day hikers or backpackers bypassed Lost Lake). We claimed Campsite #1, which had the ideal ratio of sunny to shaded spots. It’s large too, leaving ample room for 2-3 families easily. Compared to all the others sites, we also appreciated its privacy and quick access to the lake. It made fetching and treating water a breeze, plus we could send the kids down to play along the shore without much of a worry since they were in close proximity.
The lake isn’t huge, perhaps a mile around. But it really made for a pleasant hike in the evening and following morning, with the kids mainly using it as an opportunity to throw/skip rocks and climb on the large boulders that rise above the surface like little islands. Also, as we ventured to the more exposed, east-facing side of the lake, we encountered beautiful wildflowers clinging to the steep slope of the mountain. Harebell, Indian Paintbrush, Old Man of the Mountain sunflowers, Blanket Flower, Aster, Common Yarrow, etc. flanked both sides of the trail (disclaimer: I’m not a botanist, so don’t quote me on these varieties).
Back at camp, the kids were enthralled with a beautiful fox that decided to take a nap on a boulder near us as we cooked dinner (using our Jet Broil of course—one of my favorite backpacking items of all time!). The fox hardly seemed bothered by our presence. Meanwhile, speaking of bothersome: the heavy smoke from all the wildfires across the western US. It was so thick this evening that it wasn’t until morning when we realized the Continental Divide stood poised in the distance. A delightful view over morning coffee!
coffee in the hammock 
Foxy Fox 
rock toss
Trading for Trails 