Lake Isabelle
Hike to Long Lake and Lake Isabelle
The first hike of the year in the Indian Peaks Wilderness area and since hiking around Brainard lake last year, I have been wanting to get back. Long Lake and Lake Isabelle both begin at the Long Lake Trailhead, 10,500ft. Long Lake is 0.2 miles each way from the trailhead and Lake Isabelle is 2.1 miles. Long Lake was a quick and easy walk from the trailhead. Once you arrive at Long Lake there is a sign and you can go left, the Jean Lunning trail, which goes around the lake, or go right towards Lake Isabelle. The Jean Lunning trail does meet up with the Pawnee trail on the far side of the lake.
After hiking around the lake steadily hike upward towards lake Isabelle. Along the way, I saw snow and crossed a foot bridge over a small waterfall. As I approached Lake Isabelle there was more snow and it was great to see snow this late in the season. Lake Isabelle, 10,868ft, is a beautiful lake in a cirque of mountains with some towering over 13,000ft. Because it was getting late in the day, I decided to turn around here and hike back instead of continuing on to Isabelle Glacier. Hopefully, I will hike to it in 2018.
How long till we get there?
Mileage sign at the trailhead.
Moose in area sign
I didn’t see any on this trip. But I did on a later trip when I went to Blue Lake.
Indian Peaks Wilderness Sign
Now entering Indian Peaks Wilderness
Looking towards Long Lake
Looking west.
Jean Lunning Trail Sign
If you go left you will go around Long Lake, and going right will take you to Lake Isabelle.
Long Lake
Looking over at Long Lake
Niwot Ridge
Towering over 12,000ft Niwot Ridge is very long, starting before Brainard Lake.
Snow high in the mountains
Leftover snow from the previous winter.
Waterfall
A small wooden foot bridge helps the crossing of this waterfall.
Approaching Lake Isabelle
Niwot Ridge and Navajo Peak in the background.
Lake Isabelle
Looking east.
Lake Isabelle
Lake Isabelle with Apache Peak and Shoshoni Peak in the background.