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BPX 3-Day: Flat Top Lakes and Flat Top Mountain from Stillwater Reservoir


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BPX 3-Day: Flat Top Lakes and Flat Top Mountain from Stillwater Reservoir

Enjoy the beautiful Flat Tops wilderness area with this easy backpacking trip to your choice of three sub-alpine lakes (Hooper, Keener or Edge) for overnight camping and day hike along a wide open alpine ridge to Flat Top Mountain. It is only 11,660 in elevation, but on a clear day the view rivals any fourteener with view to the Zirkels, RMNP and Aspen area to the far south.

Suggested Backpacking Section (BPX) itinerary for 3-day trip to be used for CMC trips led by BPX leaders for BPX members:

Day 1 – Park At Stillwater TH and take first left on the 1122 trail to cross over dam and follow trail approximately 0.3 miles around lake before taking hard left in southeast direction and through forested areas and past pond. Continue on a well-defined and relatively level trail another mile or so before starting to climb up to a few switchbacks and ridgeline. From the ridgeline you can decide which lake to camp at – Hooper and Keener are to the right with Keener being the largest lake, Edge Lake is reached via the left branch of trail and is smaller but closer to day 2 hike. (3.7 miles, 1,000 feet up and 500 down to Keener Lake).

Route Day 1

Day 2 – Option to day hike to Flat Top Mountain. Either backtrack to the ridgeline along the trail or take a cross-country diagonal across open terrain to gain ridgeline. Trail along the ridge is faint to start with and eventually fades but the path along the wide ridge to the summit is easy to see. (7.2 miles, 1,800 feet up and down from Keener Lake to summit and return).

Route Day 2

Day 3 – Return to TH by reversing Day 1. (3.7 miles, 500 feet up, 1,000 down from Keener Lake).

Driving Directions: From Yampa and turn off at the Sinclair station (last good stop and cell phone reception). Take Moffat Ave. and CR 7 to the end of FS RD 900 and Stillwater Reservoir. The road is mostly good gravel but takes time. Restrooms available at TH.

General Requirements: Hiking conditions are best from mid-June after major snow has melted through October. July can be buggy, but the flowers are best then.

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Length: 7.4 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft
  • 11,191 ft
  • Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service
    Flat Tops Wilderness Area, Yampa Ranger District (RNF)
  • Parking Permit Required: USFS Permits & Passes
  • Recommended Party Size: 6
  • Maximum Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
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  • Trails Illustrated 122
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