Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

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Distance: 6.8 miles one-way Lake elevation: 10,574 feet Trailhead elevation: 8,500 feet Net elevation gain: 2,074 feet Wild Basin Trailhead Rocky Mountain National Park

Thunder Lake is in a gorgeous setting in forests on the west side of Wild Basin. The trail is well maintained to the patrol cabin at the lake, and from that point, an unmaintained trail leads to the west end of the lake.

Thunder Lake

Major Trail Landmarks Copeland Falls (0.3 miles one-way from trailhead) Calypso Cascades (1.8 miles one-way from trailhead) Ouzel Falls (2.7 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Thunder Lake and Bluebird Trails (3.1 miles one-way from trailhead) Junction of Thunder Lake and Lion Lake Trails (4.8 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Thunder Lake Bluebird Lake (6.2 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Thunder Lake and Bluebird Lake Trails Lion Lake #1 (7.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via Thunder Lake and Lion Lake Trails Boulder-Grand Pass (8.0 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unmaintained route past Thunder Lake

Backcountry Campsites Near Thunder Lake North Saint Vrain (3.5 miles one-way from trailhead) - 2 individual sites Thunder Lake (6.8 miles one-way from trailhead) - 1 group site and 4 individual sites

The Wild Basin Trailhead is on the east side of the Continental Divide between Meeker Park and Allenspark. Turn west on to Wild Basin Road from Colorado Highway 7, at a junction about 13 miles south of Estes Park. Continue west to the Copeland Lake area, roughly one-half mile from Highway 7. The Wild Basin trailhead is about 2 miles beyond Copeland Lake on a narrow gravel road. The trailhead begins on the south end of the parking area at the Wild Basin Ranger Station. Access to this parking area may be limited during seasons when snowfall is still present. The Thunder Lake Trail leads past Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls before reaching a junction with a trail to Bluebird Lake. Continue toward Thunder Lake, crossing North Saint Vrain Creek, and eventually reaching another junction. At this second major junction, with the trail to Lion Lake #1, take the left-hand trail and continue toward Thunder Lake. Note that there is an unmaintained trail for backpackers that connects on both ends to the Thunder Lake trail. This trail runs from west of Copeland Falls to near the North Saint Vrain campsite area. The Thunder Lake Trail is more well graded than this alternate trail.

Sample photographs of the hike to Thunder Lake

Pilot Mountain, Mount Alice from Thunder Lake

View of Buolder-Grand Pass from Thunder Lake

Patril cabin, with Pilot Mountain above

Tanima Peak and Thunder Lake

Thunder Lake topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line

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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws. Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.