Trip
Advanced Snowshoe – Brainard Lake Rec Area - Lake Isabelle
Embark on an advanced snowshoe adventure from the Brainard Lake Winter Parking Lot to Lake Isabelle, covering over 11 miles round trip with approximately 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The route winds through serene alpine forests and open meadows, offering stunning views of snow-covered peaks and frozen Brainard Lake along the way. Reaching the dramatic, icy expanse of Lake Isabelle, nestled beneath Shoshoni Peak, Apache Peak, and Navajo Peak, rewards snowshoers with a pristine winter wonderland experience.
Contacts
- Thu, Feb 20, 2025
- Bobcats Section
- Snowshoeing
- Adults
- Challenging
- Challenging
- Mileage: 11.2 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,300 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,921 ft
- Pace: 1.3-1.8 MPH
- FULL, 8 on waitlist (11 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Carpool Place & Time: Meet at US 36 & McCaslin Blvd PnR-South 7:30AM for a 7:45AM departure (US 36 and McCaslin Blvd Park and Ride - South - Google Maps)
We'll then carpool to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area winter parking lot (Brainard Lake Winter Lot - Google Maps)
Additional carpool meeting place could include location further north.
A challenging snowshoe trek to Lake Isabelle in the heart of the breathtaking Indian Peaks Wilderness, starts from the Brainard Lake Winter Parking Area. This journey will test our mettle as we ascend through frosted forests, crunching through pristine snow under towering evergreens. The trail opens to awe-inspiring vistas of Brainard Lake, its frozen surface shimmering in the sunlight like a diamond-studded mirror. Pressing onward, we will traverse windswept meadows framed by jagged peaks, each step bringing us closer to the magical destination. At last, Lake Isabelle emerges—a frozen masterpiece cradled beneath sheer cliffs and glistening icefalls, the epitome of alpine majesty in its winter slumber. Our route will avoid avalanche risk areas. Our pace will be comfortable for all participants. Overall ~11 miles and ~1300 ft elevation gain. (Lake Isabelle Snowshoe 2 - CalTopo)
The Bobcats’ mission is to ensure a variety of challenging CMC trips, mostly on weekdays, all year long, for our mostly age 40+ constituents. We don’t have dues or elections and invite all CMC members to sign up for any Bobcats trip. You can search the CMC Calendar for Bobcat trips any time by selecting “Bobcats Section” in the CMC Trip Calendar “Section pull-down menu. To join our free mailing list and become a member, select the Bobcats Section anytime in your Member Profile. (Bobcats Section — The Colorado Mountain Club)
Required Equipment
10 essentials and snowshoes are required. Trekking poles are recommended.