Having driven both roads, I recommend using … Thomas Lakes, Trail Map, Thomas Lakes Trailhead, Aspen - Snowmass, Colorado. Took us a little under 3 hours to get to the lake due to the powdery snow, and got back to the car at just under 5 hours with a 10 minute lunch break. Only used to identify you to ProTrails. This feature-filled trail passes through mountain shrublands, high meadows and tall aspen stands to the lakes. Gorgeous views, well worth trekking through the fresh snow. Thomas Lakes Trail is a wonderful place; the trail is dirt and rock and easy to follow as this trail is well beaten by man and beast alike. Attractions: Forest hike, backpacking, fishing The Thomas Lakes trail is located in the White River National Forest and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area near Carbondale, Colorado. The snow was deep for the last .5-.25 mile, but the views of the frozen lake were beautiful! Perfect for a lovely fall day. Make a left turn on Prince Creek Road and go about 6 miles to the fork in the road. Thomas Lakes - 7.6 Miles Aspen - Snowmass . Location. Micro spikes helped with sliding but not completely necessary. Comments. If you are in reasonable shape, and are well adjusted to the elevation, you’ll do great. Why Hike Thomas Lakes Mt Sopris stands alone at the northwest end of the Elk Range, rising almost 6,400-ft above the surrounding valleys to the south of Carbondale and west of Aspen. NOTE: The road leading to the trailhead - Dinkle Lake Road - closes to vehicle traffic in the winter. From the Emma turnoff head to West Sopris Creek road and follow it until it becomes unpaved, keep going until you are almost at the Prince Creek road intersection ( you will feel like you are at the top of a hill). Meadows north of the 3.2 mile crossing of Prince Creek are a great alternative to camping at the lakes if sites are full, or if seeking solitude. Trails from Trailhead. Do your best to stay on designated trails and minimize. not too steep, very rocky especially on the downhill. A little rocky. Trailhead. Camping and campfires are allowed in 13 designated sites within 1/4 mile of the lakes. It took about four and a half hours (including breaks) round trip. Either way, we got to hiking and it was amazing. Nice hike. Took 1hr15m to get down. And the Thomas Lakes at the top of the hike are beautiful. Give back to this popular trail on National Public Lands Day by providing some much needed love and care! Dispersed backcountry camping is permitted in the, Camping is prohibited within 100' of any trail, lake or stream. The Thomas Lake area is one of the great beginner hikes in our area. beautiful trail, very rocky and very steep. So if traveling during the summer pack lots of water and sunscreen! This lake is open year-round, with plants of catchable Rainbow Trout providing the main attraction. Pretty rocky with a steady incline but not too steep. Natural Atlas is powered by contributors like you. Almost two miles from the trailhead, the Thomas Divide Trail eases into a dell on the ridgeline where it intersects the upper terminus of the Kanati Fork Trail. We made a mile short of the lakes. Contribute. Thomas Lake Trail is a 3.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Stevenson, Washington that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. We arrived around 7am and it was really windy and snowy. Expansive areas of floodplain swamp comprise a large part of the conservation area, with most of the upland acres located near U.S. Hwy. Will not show on comments list. It’s a challenge but worth the wait. This is a 3.6 mile dirt trail that continues on to the Mount Sopris Trail in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness near Basalt and Carbondale, CO. Right from the trailhead trail was covered in snow, and snow continued all the way to Thomas Lakes. See 1 photo from 14 visitors to Thomas Lakes Trailhead. Trail Description Trail Photos Print this Trail Trip Reports. 1 Star This. Hwy. Trailhead. Camping is only at designated and numbered campsites at Thomas Lakes. We did not summit Sopris, rather, we chose to stop at the lakes and spend our time there. The Thomas Lakes Trailhead is located on Dinkle Lake Road, 10.8 miles from Highway 82 west of Carbondale. It was about 3/4 in shade and 1/4 in direct sun. Re-enter the forest again and head to the south southeast towards Thomas Lakes. And, the fall colors just made this an unforgettable experience. This trail takes you to the base of the summit of Mt. From there you can continue another 4/12 miles to the summit if Day Hiking: Mount … Even the drive up is a treat (Rocky but pretty)! The road becomes gravel here and rises another 6.8 miles to the Thomas Lake Trailhead parking area on the right. Dispersed camping is otherwise permitted in outlying areas of the White River National Forest and Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness (see below for details). Fall colors are just starting to show. Thomas Lake Trailhead is a trailhead in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA. The lakes are beautiful, I wish we had come a few weeks ago when the aspens still had their leaves. Hiking beta and trip report for Mt. It all looks like a postcard. Please click here: 2020 RFOV Waiver. Also, be prepared for the wind to pick up at the lake! It then turns south and passes Lake Umtux. Please note, this date was originally scheduled for Hanging Lake, but due to wildfire, we have changed the location. Foursquare uses cookies to provide you with an optimal experience, to personalize ads that you may see, and to help advertisers measure the results of their ad campaigns. Definitely worth it but be prepared for 7+ miles of steep uphill if you try to reach the summit! Sopris trail is located on the south side of the Dinkle Lake Road across from the trailhead parking area. Wonderful views and the lakes are just beautiful. Campfires are not permitted above or within .25 miles (440 yards) of treeline, or within 100' of any trail, lake or stream. From the Kanati Fork junction, the Thomas Divide Trail climbs moderately for a half-mile to the top of Nettle Creek Bald. Trail Description Trail Photos Print this Trail Trip Reports. Northern Sierra Trails. We made it to the lake in 2hrs and ate a nice lunch. Parking. COTREX is a project by the Colorado DNR and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. See weather forecast. Sopris via Thomas Lakes Trail, located in White River National Forest, Colorado. Thomas Lake Trail #111. Difficulty: Moderate to the lakes; difficult to the summit (through talus and scree fields and steep terrain) From Basalt to the Trailhead: Take Hwy. These sunny slopes are a good place to see flowers and anything moving about. it was windy and cold at the lake so we walked back a bit to find a sunny windbreak for lunch. Got to the first large lake in 1h40m. rich-text Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area. It was an absolutely beautiful sunny day and hike. Box 948 Glenwood Springs CO 81602 970.945.2521 | 970.319.2670. Trailhead to Thomas Lakes Note: This trail is open to mountain bikes up to the Hay Park junction. Trailhead Co-ordinates: 46.0057, -121.8391 Open map in new window. This trail is no joke-we struggled with the altitude (we are visiting from a town that sits at around 550 ft, so we were much slower than expected). This is the standard route up to Mt. Trailhead Co-ordinates: 46.0057, -121.8391 Open map in new window. Rocky in places. Excellent hike with stunning fall color views up and back. 23. Trial has a odd and long switch back. The Thomas Lakes are located 3.8 miles from Dinkle Lake Road at the base of Mount Sopris in the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness. Didn’t make it to the lakes because the trail was too hard to find. Pretty lake. The first lake fills a steep walled bowl that forms Prince Creek; the second lies .2 miles away in a level, more accessible basin. Sopris. This pleasant hike climbs to the timber lined shores of the Thomas Lakes, nestled beneath the … From Highway 82 in Carbondale, travel 2.7 miles on Highway 133 to Prince Creek Road and turn left. Day Hiking: Mount … Beautiful in the fall for all the colors! It’s a steady incline, with STEEP spots along the way. The trailhead is ¼ before Dinkle Lake. Spring Gulch Cross-Country Skiing Trail System, Rio Grande Trail: Carbondale Camprground to Roaring Fork River, Red Hill via Blue Ribbon and Three Gulch Trail [CLOSED], Red Hill Via Three Poles, Mushroom Rock, Roller Coaster and Skeeter's Ridge Loop, Red Hill Special Recreation Management Area. The trailhead is 1/4 mile before Dinkle Lake. Got to the trailhead by 9 AM with plenty of parking, lot was full when I arrived back at 1 PM. There are NO campfires within ¼ mile of Thomas Lakes; gas stoves only. The trail is well-maintained, Thomas Lakes are beautiful, and the views up Sopris are great. We loved this trail so much we did it twice. Take a right at the fork and follow it for 2 miles. From the Thomas Lake Trailhead, beginning along Forest Road 65, this trail climbs gently through a dense forest, coming to Dee, Thomas, and Heather Lakes at approximately 0.6 mile. Did this hike the day before Thanksgiving. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. 133 for approximately 1.4 miles. Guidebooks & Maps. The trail enters a tall aspen forest and moderates to a string of glades (2.9 miles : 9,850') that open to big meadows along Prince Creek (3.2 miles : 9,980'). Ago when the aspens still had their leaves s 12,965-foot summit can be with... 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