State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 3.8 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 10500 feet
Maximum Elevation: 13223 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Garden of the Gods
Trail Information
The Mt. Audubon Trail turns left (west) off the Beaver Creek Trail 1.7 miles from and 900 feet above, the Mitchell Lake Trailhead. The first portion of the Beaver Creek Trail is in the trees, but all of the Mt. Audubon Trail lies above treeline and inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The pace of the Mt. Audubon Trail is consistent for the Length of the trail, with the exception of two somewhat steeper sections; there’s one pair of switchbacks near the middle of the trail and one section near the end.
Early in the summer, a snowfield may obscure the first switchback of the middle set; look for the trail to the right (north) if you lose it. The developed trail ends at the saddle where there is a view down into the Coney Lake drainage. For the final half mile and 600 vertical feet, just follow cairns up the talus to the summit. The Moderate to Difficult rating of this trail is due to the high elevation and considerable elevation gain from the trailhead. It’s best to get an early start on this peak; lightning and thunderstorms are common in the early afternoon.
Directions
The Mitchell Lake Trailhead (a.k.a. Mitchell Creek Trailhead) is within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Turn west onto the Brainard Lake Road (a.k.a. County Road 102, FDR 112) off of Highway 72, 13 miles north of Nederland, just north of the town of Ward. Travel approximately 5 miles on the paved road to Brainard Lake. Proceed west past the lake and turn right onto the signed side road to the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, a half mile up and take the next right where the road to the Long Lake Trailhead forks left. Two trails start at this trailhead. The Mitchell Lake Trail is the one to the west. The entrance to Brainard Lake is closed two miles off of Highway 72 from late October through late June or early July due to snow conditions.
