2012-07-11 Short hike around Long Lake, Brainard Lakes Rec Area

The campground at Brainard Lakes has been closed for a couple years, being completely redone. Would be a fantastic place to stay, because of the many lakes and great trails. But it is a very busy, crowded place....if you get here past 10am, expect to park outside the gates and add a couple miles to your hike. Although we noticed folks hike early and leave around noon, so parking spots open up sometimes. It's like a busy day in December at the mall, folks parked in the aisles waiting for a parking spot. info on Brainard Lakes Rec Area  Trails are well marked and maintained, still people ignore the signs and trapse all over areas blocked off for re-vegetation.

We did just a short walk around Long Lake on our first visit.Long Lake

Pics from Long Lake at Brainard Lakes Rec Area

2012-07-07 A brief visit to Golden Gate Canyon State Park

The fabulous state park we visited for just two days in 2010, now it is just 6 miles south of us on the Peak to Peak Hwy. link to Golden Gate Canyon SP  We decided to head there for laundry one week, as they have an excellent laundry / shower facility in Reverend's Ridge Campground.

Had to pay the $7 state park fee, so we went ahead and did a little exploring too. Gary fished Dude's Fishing Hole while I hiked the Snowshoe Hare Trail. Trails are fantastic here. Golden Gate trails

Pics from Golden Gate Canyon State Park, CO

An early July trip up to Lefthand Reservoir, CO

Gary tried some fishing while I hiked around this lovely reservoir just up from Brainard Lakes Recreation Area north of Nederland, near Ward, CO. The road is very rough going, 4WD high clearance only, but we didn't regret it. It was a lovely trail around the lake, lots of moose marbles but not a single sighting this day. Absolutely beautiful scenery though, lots of folks come up and take canoes across the lake to a dispersed camping area, this is really getting away from it all.

We did get hit by a huge downpour and lightning storm, you gotta really watch the skies in high elevation Colorado. :)

Pics from Lefthand Reservoir near Ward, CO