Erin O'Connor gazes out into Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Photo by Brittney Wagner

"No matter what direction you’re coming from, there are going to be striking views."”

BRAINARD LAKE RECREATIONAL AREA — While splashing cool water on my face, it was confirmed: I wasn’t dreaming. The view in front of me was as real as it was beautiful, an overwhelming amount of vibrational chlorophyll contrasting the pure white glaciers that sat on the magnificent mountains that frame Lake Isabelle.

As we saunter into spring and wait for the regrowth of the Rocky Mountain flora, it’s a great time to make some plans for summertime. Sure, that bit of false spring we just experienced may have me getting ahead of myself. With many of Colorado’s most amazing landscapes requiring a permit or reservation, it’s not actually as early as it seems.

One of my absolute favorite outings from last August was to the Brainard Lake Recreational Area. But if you want to go there starting in June, when the mountains really start to bloom and come alive, you must acquire a timed entry pass from recreation.gov/timed-entry/10087515. 

I think this notion scares away a lot of locals. It deterred me for a while. If you plan ahead, though, and book something now, you’ll have a day of awe-stricken outdoor wonder waiting for you in just a few months. You won’t regret it.

No matter what direction you’re coming from, there are going to be striking views. Brainard sits right off the Peak to Peak Highway near Ward. After winding your way through the mountains to the entrance, you quickly gain even more elevation and you can feel the temperature in the breeze drop. 

As you cruise through aisles of pines, the earthy aromas wrap around you and fill your lungs. Once you find a parking spot, the trailheads are very clearly marked and are all accompanied by the primitive toilets — a welcome a luxury for all the hikers and wilderness lovers who caffeinated themselves on the drive up. 

My hiking buddy and I decided we were going to go to Lake Isabelle, which has a very accessible path. We started at the Long Lake trailhead and from there, it was about a two-mile hike to our destination. The trail was very well maintained and easy to navigate. 

We zigzagged over sections of a babbling creek throughout the whole walkabout, stopping to cool down at every opportunity. There is just something about that clear, frigid Rocky Mountain water that feels almost baptismal. 

As we neared the lake, suddenly Navajo, Apache, and Shoshoni Peaks looked massive in our view. There is no shortage of mountaintops in the Peak to Peak area, but this trio is absolutely breathtaking. Facing their majesty is a humbling experience. 

Tucked below these towering mountain faces is Lake Isabelle. Sitting at over 10,000 feet of elevation, the water is quite cold, but swimming and kayaking or paddle boarding is permitted. In my opinion, the views far outweigh the leisurely hike it takes to get there. This makes it a great place to take out-of-town visitors. 

Breathing in that fresh mountain air and gazing over the sparkling alpine waters floods my brain with serotonin and lets all my troubles fall away for a while. To have such easy access to some of the most rugged backcountry in the world is truly a privilege. These lands are so sacred and should be protected at all costs.

I encourage you to visit the website to make a reservation for this summer. All proceeds from reservation costs go directly to making sure this incredible space remains available to all.

It seems as though you have plenty of time, but somehow it’s already April. Look now, while there is still availability, and make sure you get a chance to explore Brainard Lake Recreational Area in its prime this year.