The Spirit of the Rockies www.thespiritoftherockies.net

Hike Profiles for Rocky Mountain National Park and Surrounding Areas

Mount Audubon

The hike to the summit of Mount Audubon is a wonderful alternative to some of the more famed Rocky Mountain National Park summits like Longs Peak. Most of the trail is above timberline, so great panoramic views are common throughout this Indian Peak Wilderness trail.

Distance: 4.0 miles one-way Summit elevation: 13,223 feet Trailhead elevation: 10,480 feet Net elevation gain: 2,743 feet Mitchell Creek Trailhead Indian Peaks Wilderness

View from the summit of Mount Audubon

Major Trail Landmarks Junction of Beaver Creek and Mount Audubon Trails (1.6 miles one-way from trailhead)

Principal Destinations Near Mount Audubon Paiute Peak (4.7 miles one-way from trailhead) - via unmaintained route beyond Mount Audubon

Backcountry Campsites Near Mount Audubon Information on Indian Peaks Wilderness camping regulations, backcountry zones, and obtaining a permit is available through this link: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/recreation/wilderness/indianpeaks/

The Mitchell Creek Trailhead is on the east side of the continental divide in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. To reach to trailhead parking area, drive on Colorado Highway 72 to the vicinity of the town of Ward. Just north of Ward on Highway 72, there is a large sign marking a road leading west to Brainard Lake. Follow Brainard Lake Road for about 6 miles to Brainard Lake. The Mitchell Creek Trailhead parking area is accessed from a right-hand turn just past the lake. Brainard Lake Road remains closed at about the halfway point between Highway 72 and Brainard Lake until after most of the spring snowfall has melted, which is in late June or early July in most years. There is an entrance fee collected for driving into the Brainard Lake area. From the Mitchell Creek Trailhead parking area, head to the north end of the lot and begin hiking on the Beaver Creek Trail system, which is also named "Trail 911" (The Mitchell Lake trail begins at the south end of the lot, but does not lead to Mount Audubon). The trail to Mount Audubon climbs steadily and soon reaches timberline. A trail junction is not far beyond timberline, and the Mount Audubon Trail heads west from this junction. The last few hundred feet of the summit trail are steep and rocky, but the main route is well marked.

Leashed pets are welcome on the Mount Audubon Trail

Sample photographs of the hike to Mount Audubon

View of the summit from the trail

View toward Longs Peak from the trail

View northwest from the summit

Mount Toll from the summit

Mount Audubon topographic map

Principal summer trail marked by solid red line; unmaintained trail or route marked by dashed red line. Map is oriented with north to the top of the map

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All photographs are property of Mike Amfahr and are protected by copyright laws. Topographic map is property of and copyrighted by Maps a la carte, Inc., and is used on this site with permission.