Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

Mitchell Lake

Mitchell LakePhoto: PACarlson, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
5.0 mi
round trip
863 ft
climb
11,367 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Is Mitchell Lake open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mitchell Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in Colorado's Boulder Ranger District, part of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The trail runs about 5 miles long, with an elevation gain of 863 feet, from a low point of about 10,489 feet to a high point of about 11,367 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is named Mitchell Lake Trailhead. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station records typical July averages of a high near 68°F and a low near 43°F, and the trail is open from June 1 through October 31. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet below the high point, so expect cooler temperatures at the top. The Beaver Creek hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Cmc Cabin Cutoff mountain bike route is about 0.3 mile off. Pawnee Campground is under a mile away, and the Shoshoni Peak climbing area is about 3 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Pawnee Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.9 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Rock Creek Tavern and Pizzeria

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 8 mi · Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Mitchell Lake

    Best months: June and September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      29° / 12°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 11°

      16 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 17°

      16 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 22°

      17 wet

    5. May

      50° / 29°

      16 wet

    6. Jun

      62° / 36°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      68° / 43°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      66° / 41°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      59° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 26°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      35° / 19°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Boulder 14 W, CO, 4 mi away at 9,828 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Beaver CreekPhoto: PACarlson, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Beaver Creek

Next door

13.81-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,094 ft elevation gain.

Apache PeakPhoto: matthewevans1991, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Apache Peak

Next door

Route to the summit of Apache Peak (13,442 ft) from Long Lake Trailhead.

Jean LunningPhoto: matthewevans1991, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jean Lunning

Next door

2.82-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 113 ft elevation gain.

Brainard Lake Cutoff TrailPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail

~1 min drive

1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Brainard Lake, Colorado with 160 ft elevation gain.

Little Blue Lake RoutePhoto: Ben Makuh, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Little Blue Lake Route

~3 min drive

1.42-mile out-and-back trail to Little Blue Lake in Colorado with 968 ft gain

Kiowa PeakPhoto: matthewevans1991, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Kiowa Peak

Next door

Route to the summit of Kiowa Peak (13,156 ft) from Long Lake Trailhead.

NIWOT CUTOFFPhoto: MikeLapidakis, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

NIWOT CUTOFF

~1 min drive

1.22-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 456 ft elevation gain.

Mount AudubonPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Audubon

~2 min drive

4.39-mile out-and-back to 13,212 ft on the Mount Audubon trail in Colorado.

Niwot RidgePhoto: John Game, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Niwot Ridge

~3 min drive

5.29-mile out-and-back trail on Niwot Ridge in Colorado, 906 ft elevation gain.

Paiute PeakPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paiute Peak

Next door

Route to the summit of Paiute Peak (13,012 ft) from Niwot Picnic Area.