State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 5.2 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9000 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11431 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate
Bear Lake Trees in Autumn
Trail Information
The trail from Hessie to King Lake follows the source of the South Fork of Middle Boulder Creek through forest, brushy riparian woodland and wet meadows. King Lake lies in a cirque basin above the treeline, just below the Continental Divide.
If you choose to skip driving through the water and park on the Fourth of July Road, take the quarter mile long Columbine Trail which starts at the bottom of the first hill, just before the water. It is a recently constructed trail that bypasses the flooded part of the road and comes in at the Hessie Townsite. From the Townsite, the road continues rough and with large mud puddles another quarter mile to the Hessie Trailhead. There is very little parking at the trailhead itself.
From the Trailhead, cross the footbridge and take the Devil’s Thumb Trail, which climbs steeply for about a half-mile on an old road. The Devil’s Thumb Bypass turns right (north) in 0.8 miles, just before the bridge. Do not take the Devil’s Thumb Bypass, as it does not pass the King Lake Trail junction. It is 1.1 miles from the trailhead to the Lost Lake Trail junction, which is right at the top of a hill. From there it is a flat 0.2 miles to the right to the King Lake Trail junction.
The King Lake Trail soon enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness. After the first steep section of trail, the route to King Lake levels out some, steadily gaining about 1200 feet in elevation over the next 4 miles. Towards the upper end, the trestles of the Moffat Road are visible on the side of the ridge to the left. About a mile before reaching King Lake, the trail makes several switchbacks up a steep ridge, coming out of the trees and into the alpine tundra.
After snow begins to fall, it is common to see snowshoers and backcountry skiers along the King Lake Trail.
Directions
From Peak-to-Peak Highway (CO 119/72), turn west on County Road 130, located just south of the center of the town of Nederland and follow signs for Eldora Ski Resort and the town of Eldora. At the fork in the road, keep right, through the town of Eldora. At the end of town, continue westward as the pavement ends, following to the left at the next road fork for Hessie Trailhead.
