how to get to piney lake vail

We had a 17-hour drive back to Texas ahead of us, so we were up early and hit the road. In this private setting, couples and guests will be delighted by the forty . On a quest for mountain views, foliage, and lakeside serenity? We originally wanted to have dinner at Mountain Standard but unfortunately werent able to get a reservation. You havetwo options: From the eastern trailhead (off of Forest Road #786), the trail stumbles upon the lake in about a half a mile. We strongly encourage taking the freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes, from the Vail Transportation Center to the Columbine stop. The trail, which rewards hikers with stunning views of the Gore Range, slowly climbs up 213 m, spread over 4.6 km, to a cascading waterfall. After a welcome drink, freshen up and head into Vail Village. It climbs through meadows that were once home to a very prosperous lettuce farm. The Two Elk National Recreation Trail climbs out of Minturn and follows the creek and enters Vails Back Bowls. After the hike, we were pretty tired and opted to go back into Estes Park for lunch/a nap. Worth noting - the road to Piney River Ranch is incredibly bumpy and is rougher than usual due to the high amounts of rain this spring. The hike details are listed below. Length:4.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Difficult. The Berry Picker Trail is a fun, intermediate hike that climbs 2200ft up the mountain, traversing across grassy open ski runs and through aspens and evergreen trees. This hike was incredibly beautiful and I highly recommend it! If youre not used to riding (like myself), 2 hours would probably be too much. Wonderful hike! 6 miles (9.6 km) roundtrip, 3-4 hours, easy/intermediate. Map Information, White River Getting to Piney Lake isn't the easiest but the views are often worth the trouble. We strongly encourage taking the freeEast Vail blue line shuttle, which runs every 30 minutes, from the Vail Transportation Center to the Main Gore / Bighorn stop. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Drive turn north and follow 0.7 miles to the fork. From here follow the dirt road to the left and continue about 2.7 miles, here you will hit a. Continue 0.75 mile on the trail to reach the east trailhead. Follow Red Sandstone as it turns into a dirt road (Red Sandstone Road #700), and continue for 6 miles to the trailhead, following signage for Piney Lake (you will also see signage for Lost Lake, but this is for the eastern trailhead). Denver to Piney Lake - 3 ways to travel via bus, and car - Rome2rio Access:From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. Because it's set at the foot of the Gorge Range, couples will have stunning mountains towering high above them as their wedding backdrop. 5 Can't-Miss Campgrounds in Vail, Colorado | Outdoorsy.com Denver is an awesome place with so much to do, I recommend staying the night and checking out a cool place for dinner. Enjoyed reading and traveling with you. This is a great destination for families. Continue north approximately another 1/2 mile, ascending a series of switchbacks, to the North Trail junction and stay right. It was fairly nice and looked better than most of the accommodations available in Estes Park. Map showing recreational areas. The room itself is nothing to write home about, but the views here are incredible. Map Information, White River The parking closure is a pilot program to address the negative impacts of overcrowding on the Eagles Nest Wilderness such as a build-up of waste, trail erosion, and other safety concerns (speeding, illegal parking, emergency vehicle access, etc.) Views from here are excellent as this is one of the two highest points on the entire length of the North Trail. Even if you dont stay at the Four Seasons, you should definitely head over and get a drink in The Remedy Bar! Its so beautiful! The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. Try these 10 epic long-distance hikes in the US, The best free things to do in Colorado: million dollar experiences that cost nothing, The best lakes in the US you've probably never heard of and how to visit in 2022, The 10 most beautiful waterfalls in the US to visit in 2022, How to choose an epic hike on any continent in the world, Aspen's best hikes for an exhilarating breath of fresh air, Whimsical autumn adventures abound in Vail, Connect to nature no matter the season in Vail, Colorado, North America's highest via ferrata opens in Colorado, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Walk up Fall Line Drive a mile to the trailhead. We opted to stay the night here at the Grand Lake Lodge and I highly recommend it. At mile 3.2, the trail drops to Deluge Creek where you cross Deluge Creek. You could also bring a picnic and enjoy it in the park, there are plenty of places to stop and eat with picnic tables (I wish we had known this and done it)! You could choose to drive straight to Estes Park instead, it would add another hour and a half or so. If you arent going super early, I recommend parking at the visitor center and taking the shuttle instead. . The last 1/4 mile to Booth Lake is steep and rocky. If you do camp, follow standard pack-it-in, pack-it-out protocol so that others can enjoy Lost Lake without seeing any evidencethat you were there first. Kris Vladimirov on Instagram: " Piney Lake, Vail, Colorado remote Length:4.9 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. Exhale. The parking gods must have been smiling on us though, we took another pass through and were able to snag a spot! ) or https:// means you've safely Then its off to Vail, CO! Once in the park, we headed to Bear Lake Trailhead to do the hike to Dream + Emerald Lake. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red . Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. A subtle elevation gain also makes this another great hike for trail runners, and a nice option for out-of-towners looking to get in some mileage without thelung-and-leg-taxing vert. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. From the west, the trail passes through aspen groves and lodgepole pines along a ridgeline, then gradually gains 600ft of elevation before dropping down slightly to the lake. From the Buffehr Creek trailhead, cross the bridge and proceed about 1/4 mile before turning right at the first junction (the trail to the left takes you to Garmisch Drive). Spend a full day exploring Vail! 12/03/2021 Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. After 1.3 miles of climbing, keep right on the North Trail. Proceed north from the roundabout on the north side of I-70. There are plenty of benches you can sit on and enjoy the lake views. It climbs through meadows that were once home to a very prosperous lettuce farm. Visit www.hikevail.net. Stay right and reach a Forest Service parking lot on the right at mile 10.65 before the entrance to Piney River Ranch (private property). LockA locked padlock Rent canoes and stand-up paddleboards from Piney River Ranch (pineyriverranch.com) for $30/hour, and if you forgot your rod and reel, you can rent those too (don . Please consider other hiking trails listed on this page if this trail is likely to be very busy. This popular out-and-back trail in the Eagles Nest Wilderness is a great way to get acclimated after arriving in Vail. Access:Travel west on I-70 to Exit 173 for West Vail. The Everkrisp trail opened in 2019 and splits from the Meadow Mountain trail after 0.4 mile. 2.8 mi / 910 ft gain. The Meadow Mountain trail follows an old logging road above Dowd Junction. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). Road to Piney River Ranch, Piney Lake, in Vail, Colorado - YouTube Bus to Hike:Take the freeWest Vail Red busand get off at the Chamonix bus stop. See my room tour on Instagram: Four Seasons Vail room tour! Photography by Along the way, there are good views of Vail Mountain. Cross the bridge and tracks and proceed onto FSR# 762. Once out there, you can hike the trails around the lake, rent a boat, or check out the Piney Lake Ranch. Length:4.9 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. Continue north approximately another 1/2 mile, ascending a series of switchbacks, to the North Trail junction and stay right. We took the longer route through Taos, New Mexico to visit some family. It is a local favorite, so realize it can get crowded. The Stanley Hotel is a historic hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, and known for being haunted! Piney Lake is in Colorado and has an elevation of 9,347 feet. We stayed in the Lake View Room with a balcony, and the view really was beautiful! Skip Piney, and hike to its lesser-known neighbor. Below, some of our favorite hikes in the Vail Valley for every traveler. After returning from Piney Lake, relax a little before dinner at the gorgeous Four Seasons Resort pool! Piney River Ranch, a wedding venue in Vail, Colorado, highlights the area's natural and rugged beauty. The trail gradually climbs 600 feet to the trail's high point then drops slightly to Lost Lake. After 1.3 miles of climbing, keep right on the North Trail. Meandering along Booth Creek, the route travels through aspen groves, conifer forests and meadows that are dotted with wildflowers in July and August. All Trails | Vail, CO Length:3.6 miles (one way)Difficulty:Moderate. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some dont, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). It looks awesome though (you get to ride in an open air train through the mountains) and I would highly recommend checking it out just be sure to book tickets in advance! After napping, we headed out to the main street in Estes Park to explore and get a drink. Reservations are recommended far in advance, book here. Exit here and turn right (south). Vail Mountain offers many miles of hiking trails that are both accessible from Vail Village and Lionshead, as well as from Mid-Vail and Eagles Nest/Adventure Ridge. This is so helpful! Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. Length:10.5 miles (one way)Difficulty:Varies depending on section. It takes about 40 minutes to get out there. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1890 on the left. Follow this rough, dirt road about 1.8 miles until it ends at the trailhead. Staying left takes you to Red Sandstone Road via the Buffehr Creek trail. West Trailhead: continue up Road #700 for 6 miles to the trailhead parking on the right. See theVail Mountain Hiking Websitefor more information. The parking lot for Son of Middle Creek trail is 100 yards ahead on the left. The trail winds through meadows and aspen groves which change to conifer stands as the elevation increases. Walk up Chamonix Lane to Arosa Drive to Cortina Lane for 1 mile and you will see the Davos Trailhead. Get Directions Located 12 miles outside of Vail, Piney Lake is a favorite destination for anglers, hikers, horseback riders, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Trailhead is on right side of the road. The first couple switchbacks offer outstanding views of the Gore Range and the Red Sandstone drainage. The first section of trail grants big views to the south Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, and Holy Cross are all within view along with expansive Gore Range views from virtually every section of trail. Take the next right on to Cortina Lane, which will take you to the trailhead. Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. USGS Map(s): Vail West, East Access from Vail, CO: From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. It was totally full when we arrived. 4 miles (6.4 km) round trip, 2-3 hours, easy/intermediate. At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see the trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. 7 miles (11 km) round trip, 3-4 hours, difficult. Turn right and proceed east on the North Frontage Road for 0.5 miles to Buffehr Creek Road. To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. Where the trail switchbacks, please stay on the trail and do not cut the switchbacks. At mile 4, the trail forks; crossing Gore Creek leads you over Red Buffalo Pass to Summit County (7 miles from the trailhead to Red Buffalo Pass), the left fork goes to Gore Lake (6 miles from the trailhead to Gore Lake).