Full Day Backcountry Hikes
Overview
Join a trained Certified Interpretive Guide and Wilderness First Responder to discover some of the most beautiful hiking destinations in the Vail area that are only accessible via your two feet! Walking Mountains Science Center and the Vail Recreation District operate under special permits from the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management that allow us to experience and learn from public lands like few other Vail hiking guide services can offer!
Transportation is provided from various locations from Vail to Edwards. Ages 14+
Each week we offer three distinct hiking experiences as well as easy, intermediate, and difficult hikes for every ability level! Click here to view a pdf of the 2019 summer hiking schedule and corresponding difficulty levels!
Select a date below to register. Pre-registration is required.
Monday, July 1st | Pitkin Lake
The neighbor of the ever popular Booth Creek trail, a hike to Pitkin Lake avoids the crowds without sacrificing any of the reward. This hike follows a tumbling stream, past multiple cascades and waterfalls, into a striking glacial valley. The peaks of the Gore Range are some of the most rugged in Colorado, and if you’re up for the 3,000 feet of elevation—Pitkin Lake is one of the best Alpine Lake hikes on our calendar. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 10 / 3,000 / 11,365
Highlights: Lake / Mountain Views / Alpine / Waterfall / Streams & Creeks
Monday, July 8th | Missouri Lakes
Missouri lakes is probably the most popular alpine lakes hike in the Vail Valley, and for good reason. This moderate hike climbs gently through beautiful sub-alpine forests and wetlands to a series of seven lakes. One of our easier mountain lakes hikes, this trip is accessible to most hikers and features iconic Colorado alpine landscapes. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7.7 / 1,630 / 11,523 (GPS)
Highlights: Lakes / Mountain Views / Alpine / Streams & Creeks / Waterfall
Monday, July 15th | Seven Sisters Lake
A hike to the Seven Sisters Lakes provides all of the majesty of Missouri & Fancy Lakes without the crowds. This hike begins with 2 miles along a jeep trail—however after entering the Holy Cross Wilderness the jeeps & people disappear. We hike past Hunky Dory Lake, a beautiful forested lake at the base of a striking cliff, and into the Seven Sisters Lakes basin where seven beautiful alpine lakes and striking views of Holy Cross ridge are your reward! Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 8.75 / 2,000 / 12,315
Highlights: Lakes / Alpine / Mountain Views / High Altitude / Streams & Creeks
Monday, July 22nd | Lonesome Lake
Lonesome Lake is a long, but moderate hike to a beautiful alpine lake, perched in a glacial cirque. This hike starts from near the end of the Homes take Road, and provides a true wilderness experience. Evidence of past glaciation is evident along the trail, as we hike along an old glacial moraine and through a classic U-shaped valley. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blu
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 11 /1,600/ 11,591
Highlights: Lakes / Mountain Views / Alpine / Streams & Creeks
Monday, July 29th | Missouri Lakes Loop
Join us for the ultra-classic Missouri Lakes Loop, and link 3 picturesque alpine lake basins—the Missouri lakes, fancy lake, and treasure vault lake. Not for the faint of heart, this hike features two steep climbs up and over high alpine passes, but makes each lake that much more rewarding. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 9 / 2,785 / 12,388
Highlights: Alpine / Panorama Views / Mountain Views / Lakes / Streams & Creeks / High Altitude
Tuesday, July 2nd | Wilder Gulch
For those looking for an easier hike in the Vail area, Wilder Gulch is one of the best. This hike gains less than 1,000 feet in 3 miles—but features constant views, wildflowers, and the beautiful landscape of a subalpine wetland. We will start at the top of Vail Pass and hike along a creek with multiple beaver dams to the end of the trail where it intersects a Forest Service Road. If the group is feeling like a longer day, we have the option of continuing on a more challenging section to Ptarmigan Pass. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 6 / 963 / 11,093
Highlights: Wildflowers / Streams & Creeks / Mountain Views
Tuesday, July 9th | Bighorn Creek
Bighorn creek is one of the easier East Vail hikes, and the only one that doesn’t end at an alpine lake. However that doesn’t make this trek any less spectacular! We will hike through fields of wildflowers, avalanche slide paths, and toward the head of a beautiful glacial valley. An historic mining cabin marks the turnaround during this full-day hike and hikers are rewarded with views of the Grand Traverse in the Gore Range, and Vail Mountain. We time this hike to coincide with the bloom of glacier lilies, one of the sweetest tasting flowers you will ever try! Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7 / 2,100 / 10,789
Highlights: Streams & Creeks / Mountain Views / Wildflowers
Tuesday, July 16th | Cross Creek
Bighorn creek is one of the easier East Vail hikes, and the only one that doesn’t end at an alpine lake. However that doesn’t make this trek any less spectacular! We will hike through fields of wildflowers, avalanche slide paths, and toward the head of a beautiful glacial valley. An historic mining cabin marks the turnaround during this full-day hike and hikers are rewarded with views of the Grand Traverse in the Gore Range, and Vail Mountain. We time this hike to coincide with the bloom of glacier lilies, one of the sweetest tasting flowers you will ever try! Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 8 / 1,727 / 9,686
Highlights: Aspen / Streams & Creeks / Mountain Views
Tuesday, July 23rd | FEATURED: Squaw Creek
Our second featured hike of the season will explore the life blood of Colorado—water! Streams provide a sanctuary for Colorado’s most iconic wildlife during the hot summer months, are home to an invisible vibrant ecosystem bursting with life among the pebbles and rocks, and are home to our iconic cutthroat trout. Join us for a hike along beautiful Squaw Creek in Edwards to explore the secrets of this ecosystem, learn how scientists use the life found in streams to monitor the quality of our watersheds, and hear stories of how water has shaped life in the West. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: <8 / <1,500 / 9,616
Highlights: Wildflowers / Streams & Creeks
Tuesday, July 30th | Bowman’s Shortcut
Bowman’s shortcut is a beautiful hike near the summit of Vail Pass that provides panoramic views without the relentless climbs of many Vail area hikes. We will climb 1,000 feet on switchbacks through pine forests to an alpine ridge with views of Vail’s back bowls and the rugged Gore Range. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 5.2 / 1,000 / 11,696
Highlights: Alpine / Panorama Views / Mountain Views
Thursday, July 4th | Uneva Peak
Uneva Peak is a quick 35 minute drive from Walking Mountains, and is one of the more moderate and accessible high alpine summits on our schedule! Beginning at Vail Pass, the trail travels through gentle terrain into the Eagles Nest Wilderness. At tree line we leave the trail and climb steeply through grassy alpine terrain to the west ridge of Uneva Peak. The last half mile along the ridge to the summit at 12,500 feet features beautiful views of the Gore Range! Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 6.5 / 1,991 / 12,523 (GPS)
Highlights: Summit / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Off Trail / Alpine / High Altitude
Thursday, July 11th | Mt. Elbert
Join us for our first 14er climb of the season! We will be joined by a peak steward from Colorado 14ers initiative on this hike—and learn the secrets of life above 14,000 feet, as well as how to best be stewards for this unique environment. The highlight, however, is the highest summit in Colorado—where everything you see is lower than you are! This is a long and challenging day, and be prepared for an alpine start (before 6 am). Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black-14er
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 10.5 / 4,137 / 14,439
Highlights: 14er / Summit / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Alpine / High Altitude
Thursday, July 18th | New York Mountain via Nolan Lake
Join us for a beautiful hike up New York Mountain. We will hike the Nolan Lake trail up a beautiful valley, before merging on the New York Mountain trail—a less traveled wilderness trail where we are unlikely to encounter other hikers. The last stretch of this hike takes us off trail across rocky alpine landscapes to the summit of New York Mountain. If we have time on the descent, a side trip to Nolan Lake provides another beautiful perspective on the peaks of the northern Sawatch Mountains. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7 / 3,309 / 12,545
Highlights: Summits / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Alpine / High Altitude / Off Trail / Streams & Creeks
Thursday, July 25th | Iron Edge Loop
The Iron Edge Loop is one of the most spectacular hikes we guide—and if you have one day to experience the Colorado Backcountry, there is no better route. This hike takes you through dry pine forests, lush subalpine wetlands, rocky alpine ridges, and along the shores of beautiful Lake Charles. A hike that truly has it all—the Iron Edge loop is an Eagle County gem. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 9.5 / 2,945 / 11,888
Highlights: Alpine / Panorama Views / Mountain Views / Lakes / Streams & Creeks / Off-Trail
Monday, August 5th | Lake Constantine
Lake Constantine departs from the same trailhead as Mt. of the Holy Cross and Notch Mountain, and contours above Fall Creek to a large Alpine Lake at the base of Fall Creek Pass. This hike is a moderate option for accessing a wilderness lake. There are a few rocky sections along the trail to navigate. Mountain goats & porcupine have been spotted on this trail in the past. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 8 / 2,054 / 11,437
Highlights: Lakes / Mountain Views
Monday, August 12th | Nolan Lake
Nolan Lake is one of our favorite down valley hikes, and located near Eagle Colorado. A moderate hike past mining ruins and along a tumbling mountain stream takes you a quiet and picturesque lake surrounded by craggy 12,000 foot peaks. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 6.5 / 1,900 / 11,417
Highlights: Lake / Mountain Views / Streams & Creeks / Wildflowers
Monday, August 19th | New York Lake
New to our 2019 hiking schedule, New York Lake is a beautiful hike beneath the profile of New York Mountain. We will start near the site of the Polar Starr Mine, and hike mostly above and near tree line to New York Lake in a picturesque alpine cirque. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 5.6 / 2,467 / 11,772
Highlights: Lakes / Mountain Views / Alpine
Monday, August 26th | Mystic Island Lake
Another down valley favorite, this hike begins in Sylvan Lake State Park near the famous Fulford Cave. The trail follows East Brush Creek into the Holy Cross Wilderness, and past Lake Charles to the beautiful Mystic Island Lake. A relatively moderate trail, be prepared for views of Sylvan Lake State Park, numerous granite outcrops, and craggy 12 and 13 thousand foot peaks. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Blue
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 9.3 / 2,090 / 11,309
Highlights: Lakes / Streams & Creeks / Mountain Views
Tuesday, August 6th | Gore Creek
The Gore Creek trail follows the largest valley in the East Vail area of the Gore Range, and is also the most moderate of all the East Vail trails. We will hike about 4 miles up the creek to an old grave site & meadow along the creek. This hike features aspen forests, lush riparian habitats, cascades, and many views of the Vail Valley and Gore Range peaks. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 8 / 1,800 / 10,201
Highlights: Streams & Creeks / Aspens / Mountain Views
Tuesday, August 13th | Missouri Lakes
Missouri lakes is probably the most popular alpine lakes hike in the Vail Valley, and for good reason. This moderate hike climbs gently through beautiful sub-alpine forests and wetlands to a series of seven lakes. One of our easier mountain lakes hikes, this trip is accessible to most hikers and features iconic Colorado alpine landscapes. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7.7 / 1,630 / 11,523
Highlights: Lakes / Mountain Views / Alpine / Streams & Creeks / Cascades
Tuesday, August 20th | Big Park
Big Park is an excellent hike for first time hikers, or those wishing to skip the lung busting climbs of many Colorado hikes. This hike takes you through grazed meadows at the top of a high foothill, and features meadows of wildflowers & views of the Eagle County’s surrounding peaks. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7 / 680 / 9,633
Highlights: Wildflowers / Mountain Views / Panorama Views
Tuesday, August 27th | Midline Loop FEATURED: Railroad History
Our third featured hike of the season takes us into the past, at the height of Western expansion and Colorado’s railroad industry. The midland loop is a beautiful hike high above Leadville Colorado that follows Colorado’s first narrow gauge railroad—the midland railroad, up to the Hagerman tunnel, which at the time was the highest tunnel in the country. With a backdrop of high peaks and alpine lakes, we will learn about how railroads shaped Colorado’s history, the hardy Coloradans who built them. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Green
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 5.5 / 1,000 / 11,696
Highlights: Mountain Views / Colorado History / Alpine Lakes / Wildflowers
Thursday, August 8th | Mt. Huron
Our second 14er of the season, Mt. Huron, is a new addition to our lineup. This climb is one of the shorter 14er climbs in central Colorado, and the easiest of the three that we guide. Located near Buena Vista Colorado in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness—we travel about 2 hours to the trailhead from Avon. However once on the trail, you are deep in the Wilderness and surrounded by 14ers. This a beautiful and accessible 14er climb that is not to be missed! Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black-14er
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 7.5 / 3,500 / 14,003
Highlights: 14er / Summit / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Alpine / High Altitude
Thursday, August 15th | Mt. of the Holy Cross
Mt of the Holy Cross is the only 14er in Eagle County, and one of the most challenging non-technical 14ers in Colorado. However, if you want a true mountain experience with a wilderness feel and impressive summit—summiting Mt. of the Holy Cross is a bucket-list experience. This difficult trek will begin before sunrise and hikers will face challenges clambering over scree fields and over a mountain pass as we spend a full day checking Mount of the Holy Cross off the 14er checklist. As this is an advanced hike, prior hiking experience is desired, as is being acclimated to our thin mountain air. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black-14er
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 11 / 5,500 / 14,009
Highlights: 14er / Summit / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Alpine / High Altitude
Thursday, August 22nd | Whitney Peak
Another new addition to our 2019 line-up, a climb up Whitney Peak is a spectacular hike featuring alpine lakes, Fall Creek Pass, and the summit of a Colorado 13er. This hike follows the route of our Seven Sisters Lakes hike, and continues to the summit of Fall Creek Pass where we will verge off trail and follow the shoulder of Whitney Peak to its summit over 13,000 feet. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 9 /3,068 / 13,258
Highlights: Panorama Views / Alpine Lakes / Stream & Creeks / Alpine / High Altitude
Thursday, August 29th | Bald Mountain
Bald Mountain looms over vail, and is one of the most accessible peaks in the rugged Gore Range. This hike leaves directly from Vail and climbs up a spectacular summit overlooking the valley. A mix of trail and off trail hiking makes this one of the most adventurous hikes on our schedule. Click here to register.
Difficulty: Black
Length / Climbing / Peak Elevation: 10 / 3,566 / 12,133
Highlights: Summit / Mountain Views / Panorama Views / Alpine / High Altitude / Off Trail
