Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake is located 7.9 miles from East Inlet Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park, accessible by a short unimproved trail past Lake Verna. Mild grades make this long trail achievable in a day, and only a moderate overnight effort. Visitors will enjoy miles of deep backcountry travel on the varied hike to Spirit Lake. The trail passes spurs for Adams Falls (.27 miles) and levels around the north side of East Meadow, an expansive meadow cut by slow moving oxbows on the East Inlet. This is a popular destination for anglers, and great place to see moose. The trail enters a thinned-out lodgepole forest to Lower East Inlet backcountry campsite (2.35 miles : 8,685’), where grades steepen on rugged terrain up the valley’s north wall. It crests at 3.45 miles (9,220’) and drops to the creek, where healthier fir trees appear and soften the aesthetic loss from pervasive beetle kill. The trail levels by a slow section of water before rising away to the Cats Lair backcountry campsite (3.8 miles : 9,210’). It edges back to the creek and undulates to a bridge over to the south side of East Inlet (4.35 miles : 9,405’), just past which are a series of powerful cascades. The trail steepens away on a rocky-rooted path to the Gray Jay Group campsite (5.05 miles : 9,805’), then crosses a debris field created by a recent avalanche. The NPS has done a great job making it passable, but expect fallen trees and vague spots on this short segment. Travel eases on the final run to Lone Pine Lake (5.4 miles : 9,885’). The trail turns sharply up Lone Pine's kinetic inlet falls to open rock slabs with aerial views of the lake, crossing back to the creek's north side on this scenic climb. Grades moderate between Slick Rock backcountry campsite (5.7 miles : 10,040’) and Solitaire backcountry campsite (6.0 miles : 10,145’) through a slot in the valley where the creek is dammed up into three large pools by logjams and talus. This interesting stretch continues to the Upper Inlet backcountry campsite (6.6 miles : 10,190'), then crests and drops to the NW shore of Lake Verna (6.9 miles : 10,200'), the Lake Verna backcountry campsite and beginning of unimproved travel. The unimproved trail is initially quite rugged and difficult to distinguish from social trails; when in doubt, err along the waterline - it's much easier than the steep, cluttered forest above. Proceed cautiously through intervals of deadfall, running water and slippery rocks. The terrain moderates and path clarifies considerably upon reaching the open east inlet of Lake Verna (7.5 miles). The trail rises nominally on a shifting path through drier bands of timber to the edge of Spirit Lake (7.9 miles : 10,298'). Spirit Lake is comparable in size to Lake Verna, but positioned better in a wider section of the valley to capture its scale. Andrews Peak (12,565'), Mt Alice (13,310'), Boulder Grand Pass (12,061'), Isolation Peak (13,118'), and Mt Craig (12,007') encase this grand basin. The unimproved trail continues on mild terrain to Spirit's open NE shore, and similarly through a patchy forest up to Fourth Lake (8.5 miles : 10,360'). Fourth Lake's east side opens to an idyllic meadow, a point worth reaching. The unimproved trail grows steep and is lightly traveled beyond this meadow en route to Fifth Lake (10,840') and Boulder Grand Pass (12,061'), which leads to Thunder Lake in Wild Basin.