0 6/19/2024 Posted On: 6/20/2024 By: Marmot72 Info: Road still gated at main parking, so a little extra walk to Mitchell lake/Blue Lake, Audubon, Long Lake. Trails are a mix of dry and consolidated snow-still drifts several feet thick. No snowshoes needed | ||||
10/22/2023 Posted On: 10/22/2023 By: courtc43 Info: The road is closed (and gated) at the winter trailhead. Theres no snow on the road yet beyond the gate, so lots of people out biking and walking today. | ||||
10/29/2022 Posted On: 10/29/2022 By: madmattd Info: Brainard Lake Road is closed and gated at the winter gate, sounds like that's been the case since the reservation system ended a couple weeks ago. Road was snow-covered in the morning with 2-6" depending on sun exposure, drifting, etc. | ||||
3/5/2021 Posted On: 3/5/2021 By: Cereal Info: (See separate CR for Mt Audubon.) Any car can get to the winter lot. Bathrooms open. We used snowshoes to get to the Mitchell Lakes TH from the winter lot. There are plenty of trenches. You could do it without snowshoes, and many were in the afternoon today. In case it is helpful, the winter lot is here: https://goo.gl/maps/mJs6gpLV4YtPoNnZ9 This adds three miles one-way to get to the Mitchell Lakes TH. | ||||
6/7/2020 Posted On: 6/7/2020 By: cougar Info: gate still closed, but Brainard Lake road is practically dry and rideable. All toilets still closed. Tons of people up there, tons of doggie bags piled up around toilets, and seemed like one per parking space at the winter lot. Sheriff was up there for some reason later in the day, saw lots of people parked down the road below the lot. | ||||
5/22/2020 Posted On: 5/23/2020 By: SnowAlien Info: Still Winter closure at Brainard lake rec area. But the road to Brainard lake is plowed and dry. A few snowdrifts to Mitchell lake area TH, then continuous snow starts. After a couple of snow covered miles, the trail up Mt Audubon is mostly dry above the treeline. Crooked couloir is still in for now. | ||||
6/29/2019 Posted On: 7/1/2019 By: brech Info: Road is open to Brainard Lake parking. Still closed past there to the trailhead parking lots. Roads to them are almost clear. Trails are 50/50 snow dirt for the first 1/2 mile then mostly covered to Mitchell lake. Above there the snow cover is amazing. | ||||
6/9/2019 Posted On: 6/9/2019 By: thebeave7 Info: Road is clear to Brainard lake, but the winter gate is still locked (bikeable). Behind Brainard it was near full snow coverage to the trailheads, I skied but others were hiking. Going to be a long time before the trailheads melt out. | ||||
10/13/2018 Posted On: 10/13/2018 By: LetsGoMets Info: As of Monday 10/15, the Brainard Lake gate will be closed for the season. | ||||
7/2/2018 Posted On: 7/2/2018 By: kingshimmers Info: Brainard Lake Road re-opened Friday, June 29th! | ||||
1/4/2018 Posted On: 3/8/2018 By: kingshimmers Info: The ongoing Brainard Lake Road reconstruction project will impact access to this trailhead through July 2018. Currently, the road is CLOSED TO EVERYONE for select hours during the week (M-F). Closures begin at the Peak-to-Peak Highway (SH 72), prohibiting access to the winter trailhead. Brainard Lake Road is currently open on weekends. Starting in Monday March 12th 2018, Brainard Lake Road will be closed 24-hours a day, seven days a week through Thursday, June 28 to allow for uninterrupted construction work and a safe work zone. NOTE: The recreation area and wilderness area trails will remain open during this time, and can be accessed via other area trails. See the website for more detailed information: https://www.bouldercounty.org/transportation/plans-and-projects/brainard-road/ | ||||
9/3/2017 Posted On: 9/5/2017 By: kingshimmers Info: The Mitchell Lake Trailhead parking lot has been filling up *very* early on weekends. Today the Brainard Lake main lot was nearly full by 8:30am. | ||||
7/4/2017 Posted On: 7/5/2017 By: TaylorHolt Info: Mitchell Lake TH and Long Lake TH are not open yet as of 7/4. You have to park at Brainard Lake and hike to these two trailheads. Not sure why they aren't open yet since the roads are completely clear of snow. I asked one of the rangers when they would be open, and he couldn't tell me. He said it's the decision of the Forest Service. | ||||
8/20/2015 Posted On: 8/20/2015 By: Garrett7m Info: Trailhead road open. Parking at a premium after 10am | ||||
6/28/2015 Posted On: 6/28/2015 By: adrenalated Info: Road is closed at Brainard Lake, 1mi below the trailhead. |
