Long Lake and Lake Isabelle Hike in the Indian Peaks Wilderness

The first hike of the year in the Indian Peaks Wilderness felt long overdue. After hiking around Brainard Lake the previous year, I had been wanting to return to explore more of the area.

Both Long Lake and Lake Isabelle begin at the Long Lake Trailhead (10,500 feet). Long Lake is just 0.2 miles from the trailhead, while Lake Isabelle is approximately 2.1 miles farther along the trail. Long Lake is a quick and easy walk, making it a great first stop. Once at the lake, a trail sign marks two options: the Jean Lunning Trail to the left, which circles Long Lake, or the Pawnee Pass Trail to the right toward Lake Isabelle. The Jean Lunning Trail eventually reconnects with the Pawnee Pass Trail on the far side of the lake.

After hiking around Long Lake, the trail gradually climbs toward Lake Isabelle. Along the way, I encountered patches of lingering snow and crossed a small footbridge over a waterfall created by snowmelt. As I approached Lake Isabelle, the snow became more frequent, and it was refreshing to see snow still present this late in the season.

Lake Isabelle (10,868 feet) sits in a beautiful alpine cirque, surrounded by peaks towering above 13,000 feet. The views were impressive, and the quiet alpine setting made for a perfect stopping point.

Because it was getting late in the day, I decided to turn around rather than continue toward Isabelle Glacier. It gives me a great reason to return—and hopefully make the hike to the glacier next time.