Shelf Lake Trailhead

The Shelf Lake Trail (#634) beings at a junction with the South Park Trail (#600) and the Geneva Creek Road (NFSR 119). For the first two and a half miles, the trail traverses and then climbs steadily in a north-northwest direction in the Smelter Gulch drainage. The trail then rises at a less rapid rate until treeline at about mile 2.7. The final 0.75 mile rises more rapidly in a series of switchbacks up to the shelf on which the lake is located. There are five major stream crossings on the trail. The first two are about 200 feet apart, and are located about 1 mile from the trailhead. Above the second major stream crossing, Smelter Gulch stream will be to the left (south) of the trail. At slightly over 1.3 miles from the trailhead, the trail makes two more stream crossings and the drainage will again be to the left (south) of the trail. At 2.5 miles, you will reach the fifth (and final) major stream crossing. From this point onward to the lake, the drainage is to the right (north) of the trail. As you reach treeline, the trail begins to pass through willows in which there frequently appear to be several trails that come and go. Continue in a north-northwest direction and maintain your elevation if you get confused. As you reach treeline, you will see on your right several series of cascading falls as the terrain steepens. The final stretch of the trail bends left (west) up a steep series of switchbacks on the tundra. In mid-summer, this final stretch of the trail has a spectacular display of wildflowers.Note that the actual trail described above varies somewhat from how it is represented on the topographic quad map.