State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 0.6 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 10300 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Easy
Usage: Heavy
Trail Information
The Niwot Cutoff Trail is short connector trail that leads up to Long Lake. Follow the Niwot Cutoff Trail west out of the trailhead, up a small slope and through the woods. After 0.6 miles and 220 feet elevation gain, you will reach Long Lake. At the east end of Long Lake, the Niwot Cutoff Trail ends on the Jean Lunning Trail.
When the snow falls, the Niwot Cutoff Trail becomes the domain of snowshoers.
Directions
The Niwot Cutoff Trailhead is located within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
Turn west onto the Brainard Lake Road (a.k.a. County Road 102, FDR 112) off of CO 72 just north of Ward, approximately 13 miles north of Nederland. Follow the paved road five miles to Brainard Lake. The Niwot Cutoff Trailhead is on the west side of Brainard Lake, past the turnoff for the Mitchell and Long Lake Trailheads, near the Niwot Mountain Picnic Area.
