Mt. Orton & Sandbeach Lake (Early Spring, Early Summer, & Winter)

Other times I've passed by Sandbeach Lake en route to a climb: 
Category: Colorado (RMNP)Sandbeach Lake Trailhead Elev: 8,340 ftSandbeach Lake Elev: 10,283 ftMt. Orton Elev: 11,724 ft
This page contains three trip reports:

Sandbeach Lake onlyDate: April 22, 2023 (Sat)Trip Report #: 615Partner: solo

Sandbeach Lake + Mt. OrtonDate: June 24, 2023 (Sat)Trip Report #: 622Partner: solo (Marty & Sue Abegg as far as lake)

Sandbeach Lake + Mt. OrtonDate: January 27, 2024 (Sat)Trip Report #: 668Partner: solo

Route (Sandbeach Lake): Sandbeach Lake trail (~9 miles round trip, ~2000 ft gain/loss)

Route (Mt. Orton): Sandbeach Lake trail to SE Slope (~11.4 miles round trip, ~3500 ft gain, up to 3rd)

A tranquil lake with a sandy beach and a sublime summit with 360 views in Wild Basin.

Trip Report #1 (April 2023) : Sandbeach Lake only, snowy conditions

Nestled in the southeast corner of Rocky Mountain National Park in the shadow of Mt. Meeker's expansive southern side, Sandbeach Lake provides a tranquil setting for a picnic, a day hike, or an overnight camping trip. The lake earns its name from the appealing, sandy beach on its east side. From the lake one can see views of Mt. Copeland and St. Vrain and Meadow Mountains to the west and south, and Longs Peak, Mount Meeker, and Pagoda Mountain to the north.

Someday, this summer perhaps, I have ambitions to do a nice long dayhike up to Keplinger Lake, via the North Ridge of Mt. Orton, and maybe even ascend the classic South Ridge (5.6) of Pagoda. Along the way I will pass Sandbeach Lake. So when it was yet again another inclement weekend shutting down any rock climbing on the Front Range, I decided I would hike up to Sandbeach Lake for some exercise and gaining familiarity with the route for a future summer hike. This makes Sandbeach Lake one of the few lakes in RMNP I will have visited in the winter/early spring before visiting it in the summer.

My round trip time was 4.5 hours, which included a break at the lake enjoying a hot drink and imagining glorious mountain views. I got back home to Estes Park shortly after noon, and spend the afternoon in my cozy home with my cute cat working on a puzzle.

Below is a sampling of photos from my morning of snowy mountain exercise.

Trip Report #2 (June 2023) : Mt. Orton + Sandbeach Lake (with my parents to Sandbeach Lake)

My parents were visiting me from their home in British Columbia, Canada. On Saturday, we wanted to go on a hike together. The forecast was sunny but windy, so Sandbeach Lake in sounded like a great destination for the day. My parents had never been to Wild Basin before (on their visit the previous year, we had hiked to Sky Pond and to the top of Mt. Ida).

While my parents relaxed on the sandy beaches of the lake (it was windy but they found a sheltered sunny spot), I continued to the summit of Mt. Orton, a mere a mile and a half and 1500 feet above and west of Sandbeach Lake. Getting to the summit involves a bit of bushy terrain at the start, but then follows gentle rock and tundra northwest to the stony summit. From the summit, seven of RMNP's 20 peaks above 13,000 feet are visable, including the towering Longs Peak. Mt. Orton is a highpoint on the broad North Ridge that extends southeast from the mighty Chiefs Head Peak; this ridge is bordered on the north by Hunters Ceek and on the south by tributaries to North St. Vrain Creek. Wildflowers flourish on the tundra of the summit ridge and bighorn sheep can often be seen in the vicinity. This is a great place to ramble, and I defintely  want to return and continue along the broad North Ridge to Kelpinger Lake, and perhaps up the classic South RIdge (5.6) of Pagoda.

Below are some photos from my day tagging a summit and spending some time with two of my favorite people in the world.

Sandbeach Lake Trailhead.
Larkspur.
Spotted Coralroot.
Photographing flowers.
Cool plant.
Britton's skullcap.
Western wallflower.
Sandbeach Lake.
Snowman. Will he last the day before he melts away?
Looking towards the beginning of the Mt. Orton ridge from Sandbeach Lake. You cannot see the summit of Orton from the lake.
There was a vague path off the northeast end of the lake.
The path disappeared at times, but I saw the occasional cairn as I headed upward.
Glacier lily.
Glacier lily.
Views of Pagoda and Longs on the approach.
Looking back down at Sandbeach Lake.
The rocky summit on the left is Mt. Orton.
Approaching the summit of Mt. Orton.
The summit of Mt. Orton!
On top!
Looking down the North Ridge from the summit of Orton towards Chiefs Head.
Mt. Alice.
Chiefs Head, Pagoda, Longs.
Longs.
Looking down a ridge to the south.
Views of Pagoda and Longs on the hike back down to Sandbeach Lake.
Meadow on the hike back down to Sandbeach Lake.
Forget-me-not.
Primrose.
My parents enjoying a sheltered sunny spot at the lake.
I had brought back a couple of Ale-8 from my Kentucky trip in May. This is a ginger drink you can only get in Kentucky. I saved one for my parents. Very refreshing!
I had brought back a couple of Ale-8 from my Kentucky trip in May. This is a ginger drink you can only get in Kentucky. I saved one for my parents. Very refreshing!
Walking past the melted snowman.
The snowman has lost his head and his arm....
My parents at Sandbeach Lake.
My dad and me at Sandbeach Lake. Photo by my mom.
One last photo of Sandbeach Lake before entering the trees for the hike back out. This would be a nice place to camp.
Back at the parking lot. Although Wild Basin is not nearly as busy as the Bear Lake area of RMNP, Sandbeach Lake is a popular hike.
I pointed out to my parents that their tags were expired, but my dad informed me BC recently changed its rules so that you didn't need to renew licence tags. I wish Colorado would do that, renewing tags is pricy!
My dad enjoying the view (and Oreos) from my backyard. Planning on putting a new deck here soon...

Trip Report #3 (January 2024) : Mt. Orton + Sandbeach Lake in winter

It was the first truely sunny weekend of 2024. So I spent it in the best way possible: Saturday snowshoeing up to frozen lake and a summit high in Rocky Mountian National Park, and Sunday climbing with Nate at Lumpy Ridge. I was unable to convince Nate to join me on Saturday, so I grabbed my earbuds and downloaded an audiobook and off I went for a solo adventure.

I decided that Sandbeach Lake and Mt. Orton sounded like a great destination for the day, ticking off both a frozen lake and a summit with a 360° view. I had been to the top of Mt. Orton the previous June, and I was curious to see it in its winter splendor. Indeed, it was a glorious day and I reveled in every bit of it. I don't normally take long breaks, but on this day, I stopped at Sandbeach Lake both on the way up and down to soak in the sun and examine the cool ice, and enjoyed a long summit break soaking in the views.

I did not see another soul, and on my way back down the only fresh tracks were mine from the morning. I love how in the winter, even on a glorious day, you can have the entire area to yourself.

 Time stats:

Below are some photos from my glorious day in the wintertime RMNP.

Sandbeach Lake trailhead. I was the only car. I was also the only person up there the entire day (didn't see a soul, and the only fresh tracks as I was coming down were mine going up).
The trail. Fortunately, it seemed that a rather sizeable party had been up the trail the previous day, so there were nice tracks all the way to Sandbeach Lake. But no tracks past the lake.
Sandbeach Lake. Mt. Copeland in distance.
Frozen surface of Sandbeach Lake. I have a goal to walk on as many lakes in RMNP as I can.
A bluebird day above Sandbeach Lake.
I enjoyed a 15 minute break at the lake. 
Selfie at Sandbeach Lake.
On the ascent of Mt. Orton from Sandbeach Lake. Although the avalanche conditions were low, I was a bit wary of this slope, so I chose to ascend a wind packed area on the left.
The wind packed area I ascended. 
A couple of hours later, on my way back down from Orton, I noticed that the slope had indeed slid. This looks like a wind slab slide.
The upper bit of the slope. This looked quite wind-laden, but it also looked small enough to not be very dangerous.
As I was ascending the upper slope, a 1-foot thick wind slab broke loose. I rode a slab down the slope for a body length. I never felt in any real danger since the slope where I was was short.
The cut.
A piece that started to slide away and stopped.
The slide on my small slope triggered a bigger slab avalanche on the much bigger slope to the right. This photo was taken on the descent, when I was below it all and had a better view.
The gentle open ridge leading to Mt. Orton. Pagoda on the right.
The summit of Orton is now in view. Chiefs Head is behind and right of Orton.
Getting closer....
....and closer....
...nearly there.
View to the south. Copeland is on the right.
View to the west towards Isolation Peak.
The summit of Mt. Orton. To the left is Chiefs Head and to the right is Longs Peak (Pagoda is directly behind Orton blocked from view).
On top!
I enjoyed a thermos of hot chocolate on the summit. Chiefs Head, Pagoda, and Longs behind.
On top, looking northwest. Mt. Alice on left, Chiefs Head on right.
The view northwest from the summit of Orton, looking along the ridge leading to Chiefs Head.
Isolation Peak and Eagle's Beak to the west.
Mt. Alice to the northwest.
Mt. Alice to the northwest.
Pagoda to the north.
Heading back down.
Heading back down.
It was sunny, but probably only 20°F. These cute rechargable hand warmers were nice to have. 
Back at Sandbeach Lake.
It was still so nice and warm, so I took a nice break at the lake. Mt. Meeker above to the east.
Enjoying a sunny seat on the beach at Sandbeach Lake.
A nice combo.
Walking on water.
Bubbles in the ice.
Ice art.
Ice art.
Ice art.
I should know the name of this plant....
My hand warmers still going strong on the drive back home (they supposedly last 20 hours on low power and 8 hours on high, but in my experience I would cut these numbers in half; still sufficient for a single day out though). I called these cute before, but they perhaps have an evil undertone to them. But I still love them.
I already have enough shoes. But the spot reserved for my boots (currently drying over the fire) has been taken over by a new grey and white pair.

previous and next adventures

(April 2023: Sandbeach Lake only)
(June 2023: Sandbeach Lake + Mt. Orton)
(January 2024: Sandbeach Lake + Mt. Orton)