I am planning a 4-day/3-night backpacking trip in mid-September for a group of 6 total along the below route and am looking for some beta/advice on good camp locations (we'd have 2 2P tents and 1 3P).
https://caltopo.com/m/P4T15
Day 1: Start at Ute Trailhead, up Ute Creek, possibly camp at Black Lake (~6.65mi) but would kinda like to continue past Black Lake to near confluence of West Ute Creek and Middle Ute Creek (confluence @ 0.85mi past Black Lake). Has anyone camped in the floor of the Ute Creek valley near this confluence ("1" on map)? It looks like there is lots of flat terrain there but not sure whether it's all swampy/willlows or whether it's viable/good camping. Looking at satellite imagery it looks like a workable option to me but would love to hear from anyone with first-hand experience in this area. Or is the camping at Black Lake stellar and worth stopping-short for?
Day 2: Continue up Middle Ute Creek to Twin Lakes. How is the camping at Twin Lakes? Any reason to recommend that we push-on to Flint Lakes to camp there (if so, which lake / coordinates)?
Day 3: East over Continental Divide then drop into Rincon La Osa valley. Was targeting large flat area near "3" on map (~11,025'); found one other mention online of camping in that valley at around 11K' so I'm optimistic there will be some camping options in this area. Any beta on specific camp locations in Rincon La Osa valley?
Thanks in advance for any recommendations or advice you can provide!
[Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
Camping at Black Lake would be easy for your group. There is a tiny creek just before lake, not sure what flow would be this time of year.
Just past lake is high point where you can see into all three drainages. Have seen groups camping there. Water is either back before lake or ahead down to Ute Creek. It’s a good trek at end of day.
Black Lake has marshy edges and available too. Have never used it.
Up Middle Fork is straight forward. Camping around Twin Lakes doable, ground always looks lumpy.
Have never camped by Flint Lake, maybe next summer. I’m guessing it should be straightforward judging from what I’ve seen looking at basin.
Not familiar with Rincon Osso.
You might want to consider following CDT back to Wemunichi pass. Spectacular sky walking. We have fond memories of The Skyline trail. There was / is a down tree, have read trip reports that indicate getting around it is possible, it’s on a very steep side hill.
There’s magic in the Wemunichi, along with rain, hail and the best lighting storms. Have fun.
Just past lake is high point where you can see into all three drainages. Have seen groups camping there. Water is either back before lake or ahead down to Ute Creek. It’s a good trek at end of day.
Black Lake has marshy edges and available too. Have never used it.
Up Middle Fork is straight forward. Camping around Twin Lakes doable, ground always looks lumpy.
Have never camped by Flint Lake, maybe next summer. I’m guessing it should be straightforward judging from what I’ve seen looking at basin.
Not familiar with Rincon Osso.
You might want to consider following CDT back to Wemunichi pass. Spectacular sky walking. We have fond memories of The Skyline trail. There was / is a down tree, have read trip reports that indicate getting around it is possible, it’s on a very steep side hill.
There’s magic in the Wemunichi, along with rain, hail and the best lighting storms. Have fun.
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
Thanks for the thoughtful reply/info!
If anyone has any other info/recommendations on camp sites along this route please share!
If anyone has any other info/recommendations on camp sites along this route please share!
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
I've camped at Black, Twin, Flint and Ute Lakes.
Black Lake isn't the prettiest, very marshy edges. I'd probably continue down to the confluence of the creeks (1 in your map) if you group is able too. I don't remember it being marshy, and would be much easier to fit a larger group.
Twin Lakes is a fine destination, but spots were a little tough to manage from memory. I would highly recommend skipping Twin and pushing on to Ute Lake if you can. Ute is spectacular and there is a small camping area on the SE side of the lake, there were also some groups camping up higher on the ridge as well which would be a nice spot if weather was calm.
If anyone fishes make sure to bring the fly rod. Tons of fish in Flint and Ute, got skunked in Black and Twin Lakes though.
Black Lake isn't the prettiest, very marshy edges. I'd probably continue down to the confluence of the creeks (1 in your map) if you group is able too. I don't remember it being marshy, and would be much easier to fit a larger group.
Twin Lakes is a fine destination, but spots were a little tough to manage from memory. I would highly recommend skipping Twin and pushing on to Ute Lake if you can. Ute is spectacular and there is a small camping area on the SE side of the lake, there were also some groups camping up higher on the ridge as well which would be a nice spot if weather was calm.
If anyone fishes make sure to bring the fly rod. Tons of fish in Flint and Ute, got skunked in Black and Twin Lakes though.
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
I had a good camp at ~10980' in Rincon La Osa. It was an existing site in the trees just east of a large meadow.
A note about maps: the upper part of the Rincon La Osa trail has been totally rerouted since the USGS quads were printed. It now connects to the CDT at the saddle east of Ute BM instead of the saddle on the south ridge. Trails Illustrated Weminuche maps 2011 or later should be right. The trail location below treeline on the Weminuche Pass quad is also misleading; it's mostly a lot farther from the creek than the map shows, so it might be hard to find good camping if you go very far below 11000'. (Unless you go all the way to the Pine, then there's lots of places to camp.)
I enjoyed Rincon La Osa. I spent 3 days there, and saw only 1 other person.
A note about maps: the upper part of the Rincon La Osa trail has been totally rerouted since the USGS quads were printed. It now connects to the CDT at the saddle east of Ute BM instead of the saddle on the south ridge. Trails Illustrated Weminuche maps 2011 or later should be right. The trail location below treeline on the Weminuche Pass quad is also misleading; it's mostly a lot farther from the creek than the map shows, so it might be hard to find good camping if you go very far below 11000'. (Unless you go all the way to the Pine, then there's lots of places to camp.)
I enjoyed Rincon La Osa. I spent 3 days there, and saw only 1 other person.
Every village has at least one idiot. Successful villages choose someone else to be their leader.
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
Thanks for all the great info!
For night 1: I think we'll shoot for the confluence of West Ute Creek and Middle Ute Creek.
For night 2: I was also (previously) eyeing that flat spot on the SE side of Ute Lake but wasn't sure how viable/large of a camp area it was; do you think 3 tents would fit there OK? On our original/planned route we would have had to descend to Ute Lake from the CDT (S of Ute Lake) but now I'm thinking maybe we skip Twin Lakes altogether and ascend up the Ute Lake Trail from where it forks off of the Middle Ute Creek Trail. Does anyone know whether there's any sort of social trail that contours over-to and along the eastern shore of Ute Lake (red in image below)? Blue in image below looks like another possible descent but maybe bushwhacky. Green looks like the most commonly used descent option (probably a couple other options descending from the south/CDT as well) but if coming from the north I'd be inclined to try something like red or blue to avoid the added mileage of walking all the way south towards the CDT just to cut back NW to descend.
For night 3: Thanks for the info on Rincon La Osa! It looks like there should be some good camp options there, we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled so we don't miss them.
After the trip I'll be sure to come back to this thread to post coordinates of where we ended up staying. If anyone has any additional recommendations please share!
For night 1: I think we'll shoot for the confluence of West Ute Creek and Middle Ute Creek.
For night 2: I was also (previously) eyeing that flat spot on the SE side of Ute Lake but wasn't sure how viable/large of a camp area it was; do you think 3 tents would fit there OK? On our original/planned route we would have had to descend to Ute Lake from the CDT (S of Ute Lake) but now I'm thinking maybe we skip Twin Lakes altogether and ascend up the Ute Lake Trail from where it forks off of the Middle Ute Creek Trail. Does anyone know whether there's any sort of social trail that contours over-to and along the eastern shore of Ute Lake (red in image below)? Blue in image below looks like another possible descent but maybe bushwhacky. Green looks like the most commonly used descent option (probably a couple other options descending from the south/CDT as well) but if coming from the north I'd be inclined to try something like red or blue to avoid the added mileage of walking all the way south towards the CDT just to cut back NW to descend.
For night 3: Thanks for the info on Rincon La Osa! It looks like there should be some good camp options there, we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled so we don't miss them.
After the trip I'll be sure to come back to this thread to post coordinates of where we ended up staying. If anyone has any additional recommendations please share!
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
Looking closely at satellite imagery from a couple different years it looks to me like there is some sort of herd path from the Ute Lake Trail (far top-right corner of image below, not shown) over towards the outflow of Ute Lake; but it's definitely patchy and I lose it just east of the outflow. Has anyone hiked to/from Ute Lake from the NE? Does anyone know whether the eastern shore of Ute Lake is "walkable" from the outflow all the way over towards the SE corner?
Using this image of Ute Lake for reference, I'm asking about hiking from the dead pines way in the background up towards the outflow (center) and then to the right along the eastern shore all the way to the very far right of the image where we'd try to set up camp #2.

Using this image of Ute Lake for reference, I'm asking about hiking from the dead pines way in the background up towards the outflow (center) and then to the right along the eastern shore all the way to the very far right of the image where we'd try to set up camp #2.

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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
3 tents would fit in that spot, but you'll be close together. I tried looking back at photos to see if you red line goes and I didn't really get anything. I suspect it does, but that also probably depends on your groups tolerance to some minor scrambling/rock hopping. Your blue line will have a fair amount of willow bashing but would go. Green line is what we used.
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
It's been a few years, but I would not recommend Black Lake. It is marshy and not that pretty. You are in the trees there so that is nice, but beyond that I thought it was miserable. Lots of mosquitos also, but you may not have to worry about that in September. I would keep going to where the Utes come together. If possible, head to Rock Lake. Absolutely stunning
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Re: [Camping Advice? 4D3N] Ute TH 🡒 Ute Creek 🡒 Twin Lakes 🡒 Rincon La Osa 🡒 Thirty Mile TH
Our first night camp was near where the East Ute Creek Trail crosses Middle Ute Creek (on the west side of the crossing) @ 37.692906, -107.420453.
We ended up not going to Ute Lake but rather just up East Ute Creek and then immediately down into Rincon La Osa. In the Rincon La Osa valley we camped at 37.639786, -107.367789.
Our third camp was along the Rincon La Vaca stream where it enters the Pine River valley at 37.667003, -107.333636.
One other bit of beta to share: just after descending Rincon La Osa we cut NE across a meadow (red dotted line below) to the Pine River Trail and somewhere just after rejoining the Pine River Trail northbound after crossing a small creek the trail swings briefly left/up with that creek still on the left then look for a cut-back towards that creek -- there's a really nice spring there emerging from the hillside -- delicious!!!
We ended up not going to Ute Lake but rather just up East Ute Creek and then immediately down into Rincon La Osa. In the Rincon La Osa valley we camped at 37.639786, -107.367789.
Our third camp was along the Rincon La Vaca stream where it enters the Pine River valley at 37.667003, -107.333636.
One other bit of beta to share: just after descending Rincon La Osa we cut NE across a meadow (red dotted line below) to the Pine River Trail and somewhere just after rejoining the Pine River Trail northbound after crossing a small creek the trail swings briefly left/up with that creek still on the left then look for a cut-back towards that creek -- there's a really nice spring there emerging from the hillside -- delicious!!!
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