Woodland Lake Trail #811

Description:

• This trail is located west of Nederland and Eldora, in the Middle Boulder Creek Trail System. It accesses Woodland Lake. Other linking trails include King Lake, Lost Lake, and Devil's Thumb/Jasper Lakes. This area offers relatively flat skiing terrain, with steeper pitches as you near the lakes.

  This trailhead accesses the southern most drainage of the Indian Peaks wilderness approximately 1.6 miles west of the Hessie Townsite. Follow the trail from the parking lot to the King Lake Cutoff. Take the right fork (west-northwest) along the wagon road past the Indian Peaks boundary to the crossing of Jasper and Woodland Creeks. A trail sign points to the Woodland Lake Trail which stays on your right before entering a thick spruce forest. The final .3 miles to the lake runs through a windswept area of stunted conifers. Return the same way.

  The trail from Hessie to Lost Lake climbs rather sharply up the old wagon road. Snow conditions in the open areas may vary from hard pack to powder to wind slab. This trail should be viewed as a full day trip, so give yourself ample time. The descent from the Lost Lake cutoff to Hessie is quite steep and involves a rather sharp 90 degree left-hand turn to cross the bridge over Middle Boulder Creek--Ski within your abilities.