Lost Creek Wilderness Loop

Intro

The Lost Creek Wilderness is a 119,790-acre wilderness area located in central Colorado in Jefferson and Park counties south of the town of Bailey. The area is situated entirely within the boundaries of the Pike National Forest. Elevations range from 8,000 to 12,400 feet. Lost Creek was named after a creek of the same name that repeatedly disappears underground only to reappear again further downstream where it ultimately becomes Goose Creek. The Lost Creek Wilderness is accessed by a 136 mile trail network, 105 miles of which are within the Wilderness boundary. The trail system runs through park-like forests, aspen groves, grassy meadows, fascinating rounded granite domes, and rocky mountains. Black bears, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, and bobcats share the region. Vegetation includes ponderosa, bristlecone, and lodgepole pine, aspen, spruce, fir, and alpine tundra. Despite the relative proximity to the Boulder and Denver area (1-2 hour drive to the trailheads), the area maintains a wild and remote feel.

In October 2022, when Nate and I felt compelled to embark on a weekend overnight to hike amongst the beautiful fall colors in the crisp fall air, the Lost Creek Wilderness seemed like a great place to check out (neither of us had been there). After some research on the backpacking options in the area, we decided on the "Lost Creek Wilderness Loop", a 30-mile loop through the heart of the Lost Creek Wilderness. This loop conveniently starts at the Lost Park Campground (10,000 feet), about 19 miles off Highway 285 on a 2WD dirt road. The loop links four trails and crosses Lost Creek four times. The scenery varies from wide open valleys, rocky canyons, aspen groves, scenic subalpine forests, and open tundra speckled with granite rock formations. Campsites and water abound. The area feels vast and remote considering it is just a couple hours from the front range. 

The loop can be hiked in either direction. It seems that most people hike the loop counterclockwise to break up the big climbs of the hike, but Nate and I decided that the more important criteria was where we wanted to camp: we identified the open and scenic area near the junction of the McCurdy Park Trail and the Brookside McCurdy Trail as where we wished to camp on Saturday night, which made us to decide to hike the loop clockwise. Done clockwise, the loop links the following four different trails (taking a right at each trail junction):

• • From Lost Park Campground, east along Wigwam Trail #609 to junction with Goose Creek Trail #612 (8.2 miles)

  • South along the Goose Creek Trail #612 to junction with McCurdy Park Trail #628 (3.0 miles)

  • West and then south along the McCurdy Park Trail #628 to junction with Brookside McCurdy Trail #607 (7.3 miles)

  • West and then north along the Brookside McCurdy Trail #607 to Lost Park Campground (10.1 miles)

Nate and I hiked the loop over a weekend, camping Friday and Saturday nights along the loop. Our itinerary:

• • Friday: Drive to trailhead, late afternoon hike along Wigwam Trail to campsite (~3.5 miles)

  • Saturday: Hike Wigwam Trail, Goose Creek Trail, and McCurdy Park Trail to campsite below McCurdy Tower (~15.0 miles)

  • Sunday: Hike Brookside McCurdy Trail back to trailhead (~10.1 miles)

Nate and I had a wonderful time on this loop hike, enjoying two full days and two nights in the wilderness, sharing each others company and reveling in fall colors and breathing the crisp fall air. I had given Nate one of my extra cameras for the trip and together we took 450 photos (1/3 of them Nate's). Below is a trip report for our weekend overnight adventure, including both my and Nate's photos. It was difficult to narrow the photo selection down. Enjoy!

Map

Jump to....

Section 1: Wigwam Trail #609

Hiking distance: 8.2 miles   •    Approximate hiking time (does not include a 44 minute breakfast/dryout break Saturday morning): 3 hours 18 minutes (1:42 on Friday evening, 1:33 on Saturday)

• Lost Park Campground (Trailhead): 4:03pm (Friday)
• Camp about 4 miles in: 5:45pm (Friday) to 8:06am (Saturday)
• Junction Wigwam Trail and Goose Creek Trail: 10:24am (Saturday)

CW directions (the way we went): Start at Lost Park Campground. You can pick up the main trail from a smaller path on the west side of the day-hiker parking lot, which snakes down the hill and crosses Lost Creek (for the first of four times on the loop). For this first 8 mile section of the loop, there is water access almost the entire way and camping opportunities abound. The trail crosses Lost Creek again and weaves among trees along the southern edge of Lost Park, an iconic wide open valley. A gradual climb up and over a saddle to junction with Goose Creek Trail.

CCW directions for this section: The junction area between the Goose Creek Trail and the Wigwam Trail can be a bit confusing: watch for a bunch of logs blocking the trail to make a quick right into the open area where you'll cross a bridge over the creek and then T with Wigwam Trail. You'll follow the Wigwam Trail (left again) for the remaining 8 miles of the hike. There is water access and camping opportunities almost the entire way. Heading west on Wigwam takes you along the river, then on a gradual climb up and over a saddle. After the quick descent from the saddle, the trail mellows out and weaves among trees along the southern edge of a Lost Park, an iconic wide open valley. You'll cross Lost Creek (the third of four times along the loop) via a bridge and continue along the Wigwam Trail. There is a rocky uphill section at the very end of the hike that is thankfully quite short. When you emerge finally from the woods, keep an eye out for a right that will take you up to parking area via the campground's east end. Cross Lost Creek for the fourth and final time.

Section 2: Goose Creek Trail #612

Hiking distance: 3.0 miles   •    Approximate hiking time: 1 hour 18 minutes, Saturday

• Junction Wigwam Trail and Goose Creek Trail: 10:24am
• Junction Goose Creek Trail and McCurdy Park Trail: 11:42am

CW directions (the way we went): At the junction between the Wigwam Trail and the Goose Creek Trail, take a right onto the Goose Creek Trail, heading south. The first 100 feet involve a trail through a marsh; this area is often wet (it was wet for us even in October so we took off our shoes and waded the trail). The section of the hike on the Goose Creek Trail goes up and over a saddle, and is only a few miles to the junction with the McCurdy Peak Trail.

CCW directions for this section: At the junction of the McCurdy Park Trail and Goose Creek Trail, head left on Goose Creek Trail and keep on climbing. Finally reaching the saddle, you are rewarded with a fairly smooth descent down the valley to a junction with Wigwam Trail. The final section crosses a marshy area (often wet). The section of the hike on the Goose Creek Trail is only a few miles.

Section 3: McCurdy Park Trail #628

Hiking distance: 7.3 miles   •    Approximate hiking time (does not include a 40 minute lunch break): 3 hours 38 minutes, Saturday

• Junction Goose Creek Trail and McCurdy Park Trail: 11:42am (Saturday)
• Camp just before junction of McCurdy Park Trail and Brookside-McCurdy Trail: 4:00pm (Saturday) to 9:17am (Sunday)
• Junction McCurdy Park Trail and Brookside McCurdy Trail: 9:23am (Sunday)

CW directions (the way we went): At the junction between the Goose Creek Trail and the McCurdy Park Trail, take a right onto the McCurdy Park Trail, heading west. First descend, then cross Refrigerator Gulch and enjoy a few miles winding through a spectacular canyon before crossing Lost Creek (along some logs) for the third (of four) times along the loop.This marks the low point and halfway mark of the loop. Now begin a long climb up out of the canyon. After numerous switchbacks, eventually arrive at the junction with the Brookside-McCurdy Trail.

CCW directions for this section: At the junction of the Brookside-McCurdy Trail and the McCurdy Park Trail, take a left on the McCurdy Park Trail, heading north. After numerous switchbacks and eventually a couple of very brief uphills, you cross Lost Creek (along some logs) for the second (of four) time on the loop. This marks the low point and halfway mark of the loop. Next enjoy a few miles winding through this spectacular canyon and crossing Refrigerator Gulch, before the tone of the hike changes once again. You'll hit your first set of switchbacks as you begin a steep 1200ft climb over just 2 miles. Eventually you get to the junction with the Goose Creek Tail. 

Section 4: Brookside McCurdy Trail #607

Hiking distance: 10.1 miles   •    Approximate hiking time (does not include a 30 minute lunch break or 30 minutes taking photos of trees): 3 hours 48 minutes, Sunday

• Junction McCurdy Park Trail and Brookside McCurdy Trail: 9:23am
• Lost Park Campground (Trailhead): 2:11pm

CW directions (the way we went): At the junction between the McCurdy Park Trail and the Brookside-McCurdy Trail, take a right onto the Brookside-McCurdy Trail, continuing to head west. From here the trail crosses the hike's high point and weaves below the ridgeline past McCurdy Mountain and Bison Peak with great views, spotty trees, and rock formations for several miles. The views are stunning. Eventually descend into the forest and reach the junction with the Ute Creek Trail #629. Turn right (continuing on the Brookside-McCurdy Trail) and hike a gentle 5 miles back to the Lost Park Campground. 

CCW directions for this section: Start at Lost Park Campground. You can pick up the main trail from a smaller path on the west side of the day-hiker parking lot, which snakes down the hill and crosses Lost Creek. Follow the Brookside McCurdy Trail south and then east for the first 10 miles of the hike. The first 4 miles follow a creek and provide a nice warm-up of smooth trail as you gradually gain about 800ft. Then the grade increases as you reach the junction with Ute Creek Trail #629. Turn left (continuing on the Brookside-McCurdy Trail) and the grade increases again as you begin to gain elevation and stunning views more quickly. The climb tops out after another mile or two with stunning views to the south and west. From here the trail weaves below the ridgeline past Bison Peak and McCurdy Mountain with great views, spotty trees, and rock formations for several more miles, crossing the hike's high point. Eventually, descend steeply down a tight, rocky, but short section to the junction with the McCurdy Park Trail.

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