A Summer Day Exploring Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado
About an hour from Boulder, Indian Peaks Wilderness is filled with alpine lakes, mountain trails, forests, and some of the beautiful scenery Colorado is known for. We spent a summer day exploring the area, visiting Brainard Lake and Long Lake, and ended our day with an unexpected moose sighting.
Starting at Brainard Lake
We entered through Brainard Lake Recreation Area, one of the main gateways to Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Brainard Lake is beautiful on its own, with the mountains rising behind the water and trails leading farther into the surrounding wilderness. You don’t necessarily need to plan a long hike to enjoy this area. There are plenty of opportunities to stop, walk, and take in the scenery.
It is also a great starting point if you want to explore farther into Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Hiking to Long Lake
From Brainard Lake Recreation Area, we made our way to the Long Lake Trailhead.
If you are looking for a longer hike, the Pawnee Pass Trail continues beyond Long Lake toward Lake Isabelle and farther into Indian Peaks Wilderness.
We decided to make Long Lake our destination for the day. Sometimes you don’t need a long or difficult hike to experience a beautiful part of Colorado.
An Unexpected Moose Sighting
One of my favorite moments actually happened as we were leaving.
While driving out of the recreation area, we spotted a moose near the road. We pulled over and watched it from our vehicle for a few minutes.
Seeing a moose wasn’t something we had planned or expected, and it ended up being the perfect way to finish our day in the mountains.
Wildlife is common throughout this area, but it is important to give animals plenty of space and observe them from a safe distance.
What to Know Before Visiting
Brainard Lake Recreation Area is extremely popular during the summer, and a little planning makes visiting much easier.
During the summer reservation season, a timed entry parking reservation is required to park within Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Reservations are associated with specific parking areas, so make sure you know which trailhead or part of the recreation area you plan to visit before making your reservation.
The area is also at a high elevation. Brainard Lake is around 10,000 feet above sea level, and the Long Lake Trailhead is approximately 10,500 feet. Even during summer, temperatures can be considerably cooler than they are in Boulder or Denver.
Official Information and Reservations
Because reservation requirements, road openings, fees, and seasonal conditions can change, check the official websites before your visit.
Brainard Lake Recreation Area information
U.S. Forest Service — Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Timed-entry parking reservations
Recreation.gov — Brainard Lake Recreation Area
Indian Peaks Wilderness information
U.S. Forest Service — Indian Peaks Wilderness
Is Indian Peaks Wilderness Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. What I liked most about our day was that we didn’t need an elaborate itinerary. Brainard Lake and Long Lake gave us a chance to experience the mountain scenery without committing to an all-day hike.
And then there was the moose.
Alpine lakes, mountain views, a walk through the forest, and an unexpected wildlife sighting made this a pretty memorable Colorado summer day.
If you’re looking for a beautiful mountain escape within about an hour of Boulder, Brainard Lake Recreation Area and Indian Peaks Wilderness are well worth adding to your Colorado list.