State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length, One-Way: 10 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 8346 feet
Maximum Elevation: 12541 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Trail Information
The Cascade Creek Trail follows the north side of Cascade Creek. The trail is rather level until near the intersection with the Southside Trail intersection, when it begins to gain somewhat more elevation. Expect increasing difficulty as you progress along the trail, especially around Cascade Falls and near the Crater Lake turnoff, where the trail crosses Pawnee Creek.
The very steep climb to Pawnee Pass is difficult and the trail becomes obscured at some points, due to rock slides down the scree slope (watch your footing on loose rocks!). If you’re planning to climb Pawnee Pass, be sure to get an early start to avoid lightning and afternoon showers on the pass, which normally occur any time in the afternoon during July and August. The Pawnee Pass Trail continues east to Brainard Lake.
During winter, the Cascade Creek Trail becomes the domain of snowshoers.
Directions
The Monarch Lake Trailhead is located within the Arapaho National Recreation Area, off of Highway 34, about 6 miles north of Highway 40. Turn east onto the Arapaho Bay Road (watch for signs for Willow Creek Canal) off of Highway 34, between Granby and Grand Lake. Follow Arapaho Bay Road about 10 miles to the Monarch Lake Trailhead.
