Brainard Lake

Gorgeous lake, and a great hike on the Long Trail. We had our 3 kids with us and they were able to do the hike. The trailhead parking was closed when we went so it was quite a walk to get to the trail which is my only complaint. We saw 5 moose in June! I highly recommend this hike and checking out the beautiful area.

One of Colorado’s Front Range locations. Brainard Lake Recreation Area (aka BLRA) is a very popular location for vacationer’s. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking (literally and figuratively) if you are coming from sea level. Any season is a time to see this spectacular land. During the summer, many great hikes will take you to some of the most awesomeness country in the state. Winter is also great for cross-​country skiing and snowshoeing. Trails are well groomed and are easy to moderate with about 200 — 300′ elevation gain to the lake from the lower parking lot. The hike from the lower lot is 2 miles one way on the road, a little longer along the trail (add an extra mile).
If you are a camper (tent, trailer), Pawnee campground fills up fast. Get reservations early. The campground usually opens in mid-​July due to the amount of snow during the winter.
Always be prepared for the every changing mountain weather.

Beautiful area just outside of Boulder.
My friend and I hiked to lake isabel which was quite the hike. Lots of people going all over the place with dogs, families and campers. The farther in you go toward the lake people start to thin out and the trail gets less crowded. I’ve done great hikes here in Colorado by lake isabel is probably one of my top five favorites. The views are absolutely amazing. Enjoy!

I’ve been coming to Brainard area annually for the past 22 years. My great grandmother used to have a cabin on Brainard Lake (you can still see the slab), my grandfather used to work at Camp Audubon, my family has a quirky tradition of swimming across Brainard (dubbed «The Brainless Grizzly’s»), and I grew up on Audubon Lane (named after Mt. Audubon). Needless to say, Brainard Lake area means a lot to me. This place is great — the trails are well maintained, and the view from Isabel Lake and Glacier, Mt. Audubon, and Blue Lake are spectacular. I have a vivid memory fromLeft Hand Reservoir of a July snowfall that covered the peaks along the Continental Divide right at dusk when the sun was setting behind them. Cross country skiing is also a blast, and there are some good trails in the area.
Why the mediocre review? The current management company has done a disservice to the area by restricting access to Brainard Lake and minimizing parking. In years past, there was a loop around the lake and plenty of parking on either side of the road. When the trailheads filled up (as they always do on summer weekends), one could park by the lake and hike a short distance to the trailhead. Recent «improvements» have closed the loop around the lake and made it a two-​way road around half of the lake, while making a large parking lot on the opposite end of the lake from the trailheads. Now, if you aren’t able to get a prime parking space at the trailhead, there is a lengthy walk from your car to the trail. I will still go here, but I’m continuing to branch out and finding other hiking spots in the area.

Recently camped here for a weekend. Be aware this is a very popular destination for many hikers. It’s quite busy and fills quickly. There are often lines to get in.
The good news is the recreational area has gone through some updates as of late, so that’s nice. Bathrooms and camping areas are relatively new. The bad news, because it’s so new it’s packed.
Another note for campers, you must occupy your site with in 24 hours of the start of your reservation. Because it’s so busy we saw people taking «reserved» sites at 2pm the next day! And it’s often full so you will be sent away!

This review is for Mt. Audubon, which is a 13er, which starts at the Beaver Creek trailhead. This hike is 4 miles each way but the elevation gain is nearly 3,000 feet. Two-​thirds of this hike is above the tree line so make sure you have the appropriate gear to keep the sun from beating down on you.
The views of this hike are pretty amazing. You see several glaciers and lakes along the way. Once at the top, you have a 360 degree of all the surrounding mountains and the lakes below. It’s pretty spectacular.
One thing to note is that once you’re above the tree line it’s pretty rocky. We didn’t really notice it as much on the way up as the way back. The funny thing is that we were upon the ‘rock pile’ but until we went around it we didn’t realize that it really was. The last 800 feet in elevation gain is really scrambling up boulders. It’s fun but it eats up a lot of time. It took us 6.5 hours round trip, granted we also took our time.
The only reason why this hike doesn’t get 5 stars is because after you scramble back down the rock pile, you basically spent the majority of the hike back walking through medium sized rocks that are randomly dispersed so it’s really tough to be careful not to sprain an ankle or trip. Nevertheless, that should not dissuade anyone from doing this hike. It’s simply just a head’s up that it’s a bit more technical, therefore, a bit slower than a hike on a dirt trail.
Overall, this was one of the best hikes I’ve done and I have many great photos to prove it! I recommend it but make sure to leave the trailhead early in the morning so you’re not faced with a passing thunderstorm!

$ 10 regardless if the park is full or not, NO REFUNDS!!! They’ll gladly take your money while full. You have to drive around and around until you get lucky enough to find and open space. A dollar to walk in? Where are our Lotto dollars going??? I think it could be managed much better, They need to offer shuttle service from the Peak to Peak HWY.

Came here on a recommendation from the hiking store in Boulder, CO. What an excellent recommendation.
The hike to Blue Lakes was rated ‘moderate’ and it was. Not too hard, not too easy, and many, many excellent vistas and photo opportunities.
Worth the trip. Beautiful

I visited Brainard Lake on Saturday. Who would of thunk that in the middle of June there would still be a consistent snow base throughout the park? Great opportunity for snow-​showing, X-​Country Skiing, or even hiking.
The park itself is beautiful and so is the hike to Blue Lake as well. Yes, there is a $ 9 fee to enter but the pass last for 5 days, so use it to the fullest. The total hike from Brainard to Blue lake is about 5 miles with a 1,000 foot elevation gain, maybe a tad more.
However, the highest hike here goes up to 13,000 feet and has some pretty spectacular scenery. Plenty of waterfalls and dramatic mountain peaks, nature, and wildlife along the way. Also, there is plenty of opportunity for recreation, a lot of people were kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.
Note: This trail is dog friendly, even though it borders RMNP.