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Trip Report    

Backpack – BPX 2-Day: American Lakes from American Lakes TH

This BPX trip brought together a great group of folks, to a picturesque location, with great weather, resulting in a successful and memorable trip.

Wayne Howell Wayne Howell
September 30, 2023
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • We started at the American Lakes trailhead and followed the trail to a camping location just below the lower Michigan Lake sheltered in the trees. There were no problems along the trail, which was a mixture of old backcountry road and single track trail There was one water crossing with a secure bridge. Once we got to tree line, the amazing views opened up.

This was one of the best and certainly the most fun BPX trips that I have been on in quite some time. The hike from the trailhead to the campsite was ~3.5miles and ~1400 ft of elevation gain, nothing too strenuous, even with heavy backpacks. After establishing camp just below the lower Michigan Lake our group took a dayhike to Snow Lake (about 1mi and 400ft of elevation gain) and then over to Thunder Pass, with some great views into RMNP.20230929_200809258_iOS.jpg20230929_200805952_iOS.jpg20230929_205210419_iOS.jpg

After dinner, we were rewarded with a very colorful sunset.

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In addition to what nature contributed, it was really the people on this trip that made it so great. Our group was a mixture of new and old acquaintances, with each contributing to the magic of this backpacking trip. We all got to know each other a bit better and I'm certainly looking forward to hiking and camping with these people again.

The hike out on Saturday morning was easy and a bit too fast given the conversations we were having on the way back to the trailhead.

I'm looking forward to the next BPX trip and will keep an eye out for one to American Lakes.