State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 6.9 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 10460 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11250 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Heavy
Trail Information
The Beaver Creek Trail begins at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead. This is the same trailhead as the Mitchell Lake Trail, but it leaves at the west end of the parking lot and the Beaver Creek Trail exits to the north. It climbs into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, then in another half mile, switchbacks up a steep pitch. It circles the ridge near treeline, then just above the treeline, about 1.7 miles from the trailhead, the Mt. Audubon Trail forks left. Beaver Creek Trail continues northward for another 3.4 miles, descending the northeastern flank of the mountain on a very nice old graded trail, dropping into Coney Flats. For the northern half of this distance, it follows the Indian Peaks Wilderness boundary.
During winter, the Beaver Creek Trail becomes the domain of snowshoers.
Directions
The Beaver Creek Trail is accessed from the south via the Mitchell Lake Trailhead. Proceed 13 miles north of Nederland on Highway 72 to just north of the town of Ward. Turn west onto the Brainard Lake Road (a.k.a. County Road 102, FDR 112). Travel approximately 5 miles on the paved road to Brainard Lake. (This road is closed half way from about late October to late June or early July). Follow the signs for the Mitchell Lake Trailhead at the west end of Brainard Lake. Two trails start at this trailhead. The Beaver Creek Trail is the one to the north.
