Moose
Alces alces shirasi
DawnDusk
Resident cow-calf pairs in the lower meadows below Mitchell Lake. Keep 75 yards minimum.
Photo: NPS Photo — public domain
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Indian Peaks · Moderate
Mitchell Lake
A half-mile walk into the Indian Peaks Wilderness
Indian Peaks Wilderness
Distance1mi round trip
Elevation230ft gain
High point10,700ft summit
Typical time0.5–1hours
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A half-mile walk into the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Editorial intro forthcoming.
Trip facts
Typical duration0.5–1hours
Trailhead10,500ft elevation
High point10,700ft summit
Dogs: leashes required.
How you'll find it
From Boulder, take CO-119 north to Nederland, then CO-72 north 12 miles to Brainard Lake Road. Timed-entry parking reservation required at Mitchell Lake Trailhead (recreation.gov). Upper trailheads open July 1, 2026.
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We'll calculate drive time + a leave-by recommendation to beat the lot fill.
What you'll get
- Alpine lake just 0.5 miles inside the Wilderness boundary — accessible to all fitness levels
- Views of Mount Audubon and Paiute Peak from the shoreline
- High-frequency moose habitat — sightings on most summer mornings
- Springboard to Blue Lake (2.5 miles farther, 600ft more gain) for a fuller day
- Shortest hike delivering true high-alpine scenery in Colorado
What locals know
Practical-craft notes for this specific trail — timing, route, photo, etiquette.
Trail tips
- Route
Separate lot from Long Lake — check the permit
Mitchell Lake Trailhead is its own lot in the Brainard area, ~0.5mi from Long Lake. Make sure your recreation.gov reservation is for the Mitchell Lake Trailhead specifically — they're not interchangeable.
- Photo
Mount Audubon backdrop from the lake
Mitchell Lake's south shore frames Mount Audubon perfectly. Morning light catches the peak's east face; late afternoon side-lights the ridge. Either time gives the postcard shot.
- Timing
Continue to Blue Lake for the full day
Mitchell Lake is just the first lake on the corridor. Adding Blue Lake (1.5mi more, 800ft more gain) gives you a real alpine basin with mountain-goat sightings. Worth the extra effort if you're already at Mitchell.
- Gear
Snow lingers into July most years
The Mitchell-to-Blue Lake corridor holds snow patches until mid-July. Microspikes optional but useful. Trekking poles essential for the steep section to Blue Lake.
- Etiquette
Mountain goat ethics — never feed
Goats on the upper slopes will approach for salt. Don't urinate on the trail (it draws them); use a wag bag or move 200ft off-trail. Never offer food — habituated goats get euthanized.
Where you'll start
Mitchell Lake is a SEPARATE Brainard-area trailhead from Long Lake — same $12 timed-entry reservation system (recreation.gov, 15-day rolling), but make sure you book the right lot. Smaller lot (30 spaces) sells out faster. No NPS entrance fee; overnight allowed for backpacking permits.
Permit dates verified 2026-05-17 · Verify on recreation.gov before your trip
Parking cost
$12 permit (timed entry)
Overnight
Allowed
Backpacking permit holders only — separate USFS wilderness permit required.
Park entrance
Free
Restrooms
Vault toilets
Fills by
Summer weekends sell out same-day; smaller lot than Long Lake
Cell service
No signal
What's at the trailhead
- Restrooms — Vault toilets
- No potable water — bring your own from town
- Information kiosk
- No cell service — share plans + ETA with a contact before driving in
If the lot is full
Lower Brainard Lake (free, no reservation) is the fallback — ~2 miles of walking to reach the Mitchell Lake trailhead from Brainard.
When to go
Highlighted months offer the best conditions.
Who shares the trail
The Mitchell Lake corridor up to Blue Lake is one of Indian Peaks' best moose-viewing zones — willow-meadow habitat throughout. Marmots and pikas dominate the talus near Mount Audubon's base.
- Common
CommonYellow-bellied marmot
Marmota flaviventris
MorningMiddayAfternoonPhoto: USFWS — public domain
CommonAmerican pika
Ochotona princeps
MorningMiddayAfternoonPhoto: NPS Photo, Rocky Mountain NP — public domain
RareMountain goat
Oreamnos americanus
Occasional sightings on Mount Audubon's upper slopes — rare south of RMNP.
Photo: USFWS — public domain
What to watch for
What to watch for
- Moose habitat — Mitchell Lake area is a high-frequency sighting zone; give 25 yards
- Snowfield crossings into early July — traction and waterproof footwear recommended
- Mosquitos brutal late June–July — treat clothing or carry head net
- Afternoon thunderstorms despite short distance — turn back by 1 PM in summer
- Outlet streams run high in early season — cross carefully or wait out the runoff
On the map
Overnight camping
Indian Peaks Wilderness permit covers Mitchell Lake area camping. Most overnight users continue to Blue Lake's higher basin (10,800ft) for the full alpine experience. Bear-canister required.
Type
Dispersed backcountry
Water source
Mitchell Lake and inlet creek; Blue Lake (1.5mi upstream) is the higher alpine source. Treat all water.
Food storage
Bear-resistant canister REQUIRED (Indian Peaks Wilderness rule).
Fire policy
Campfires PROHIBITED above treeline. Stoves only.
Trail-tested picks for Mitchell Lake
Curated for this trail's terrain, elevation, and typical conditions.
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