Grouse Lake Trail #2127

 

 

Length: 4.56 miles (one way)                   Trail Use: Moderate

Difficulty: Moderate to More Difficult       Open To: XC, Snowshoe, Snowmobile (until last .2 miles)

Beginning Elevation: 7,835 feet              Ending Elevation: 10,698 feet

Elevation Gain: +2,863 feet                      USGS Map(s): Pando

 

Access from Vail : Travel west on I-70 to Exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Hwy 24. Exit here and turn right (south) onto Hwy 24. Proceed south about 1 mile and the trailhead parking lot on the right is immediately after the Meadow Mountain Business Park which is across the street.

Trail Highlights : The trail follows a dirt road for the first .25 miles. At this point the road curves left, but the trail continues straight to a junction at .7 miles. At this junction, the longer West Grouse Creek Trail goes right, and the Grouse Lake Trail goes left. Follow this trail along Grouse Creek passing through aspen, pine, spruce, and fir forest and a series of meadows as you get closer to the Lake. The trail crosses water 6 times and has several steeper sections that are all fairly short. The final climb brings you into the Holy Cross Wilderness and to Grouse Lake.  A marsh stretches beyond the lake toward the foot of Grouse Mountain and rock fields dominate the west side of the lake.
 

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