Hiking – West Branch Trailhead to Blue Lake Trailhead via Blue Lake - Rawah Wilderness Area

We will meet in Fort Collins, at the King Soopers on north College Avenue. We will also have a second meet location for folk coming from the Denver/Boulder area to carpool to Fort Collins. Details will be sent as we near the trip date.

Given the length of the hike and the need to set up a shuttle, this hike will have an early meet up time. I'm currently listing the meet up time as 5am. 

As we near the actual trip date, updated information on meet up times and locations will be sent to all participants.

This will be a one way through hike beginning at the West Branch Trailhead to  Blue Lake and then ending at the Blue Lake Trailhead. It will involve setting up a shuttle. We will leave at least 1 vehicle at the Blue Lake Trailhead along CO H14. Everyone will then pile into the remaining vehicles and drive about 6 miles to West Branch Trailhead along Laramie River Road to begin the hike. The hike will be almost entirely in the Rawah Wilderness Area. Be forewarned, parts of this area was burned in the 2020 Cameron Peak fire.

The grade on the first 6.5 - 7.0 miles is a sustained uphill hike with some switchback sections and an elevation gain of about 2,800 feet. So it can be tough. We should be hiking partially along a stream with some potential stream crossings. So there should be opportunities to filter and refill water bottles. We will take a combination of short breaks along the trail and a longer break either on the Pass above Blue Lake or at Blue Lake.

After setting up the shuttle, we will begin at the West Branch TH. The trail crosses a bridge about a 1⁄4-mile from the trailhead and soon enters the Rawah Wilderness. It follows the West Branch of the Laramie River and climbs through switchbacks for about 3 miles to the intersection with Camp Lake Trail. We will continue on the West Branch Trail for another mile or so to the intersection of Twin Crater Lakes Trail. Again, we will continue along the West Branch Trail for another 1.7 miles to the intersection with Island Lake. We will then take the left fork toward Blue Lake. The trail climbs for another 1.5 miles to the top of the Pass above Blue Lake. We will then descend (finally) about 1/2 mile to Blue Lake. We will continue our descent for another 5.0 - 5.5 miles to the Blue Lake TH. At the Blue Lake TH, we may have to leave some folks for a short time while we retrieve vehicles at the West Branch TH.

If anyone wants to contact me for more information, etc., please feel free to email me at trout.bill@gmail or call/text me at 970-222-3398.

If you have not hiked with me, I may review your profile and contact you about your hiking experience. 

NOTE: Qualified Northern Colorado members of CMC will be given early sign up privileges. Please contact Bill Trout at trout.bill@gmail.com and I will add you to the trip prior to the Registration Opening date.