blog @ Antlers Vail » Minturn

Fancy lake and Fancy Pass hike to Missouri lakes

Chris Ratzlaff — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:24:01 +0000

Fancy Pass and Fancy Lake loop hike going to Missouri Lakes up in the Holy Cross Wilderness area is one of those “must do” type of Vail area hikes if you are spending a week or more in the Vail Valley. It is moderate day hike and takes anywhere from 4.5 to 6 hours. It is a 45 minute drive each way from Vail but well worth it. It is South from Vail on Highway 24 through the towns of Minturn and Redcliff. Get directions at the Antlers at Vail front desk. The trail starts at an elevation of 10,100 feet and can top out at 12,600 so you are quite high up.

Fancy lake (seen in picture above) is the first stop on this counter clockwise hike. But you can do the hike in either direction. You can do Missouri lakes first in a clockwise direction and then over Fancy pass, then down pass Fancy Lake and back to the trailhead.

View Fancy Pass, Missouri Lakes loop in a larger map

There are some steep trails as you head up above timberline

Lots of snow out here for August 10th, wow

The top of Fancy Pass at 12,600 feet (we think)

Upper Missouri Lake

Some Llamas enjoying a hike of their own

Lower Missouri Lake

Another hiking bridge

Wildflowers up in the Holy Cross Wilderness area, with plenty of snow for mid-August

Whitney Lake hike, near Vail, up homestake road

Chris Ratzlaff — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:33:03 +0000

Whitney Lake hike is a pleasant hike not far from the Antlers at Vail and the town of Vail Colorado. One needs to drive about an hour to get there. Head west out of Vail until you get to Dowd Junctino exit 171 off of I-70. Next head south for 13 miles on highway 24 heading through the town of Minturn, up over Battle Mountain pass. Cross the big green bridge (you won’t miss it), go another couple of miles and then take a right onto Homestake road. This road is numbered #703 by the forest service and again is about 13 miles south of I-70. When you turn onto homestake road you need to drive another 4.6 miles on this rocky (sometimes dusty) road. You’ll find the sign to the trail just on the right of the road with parking on the left side of the road. The trail head starts around 9100 in elevation and tops out at the lake at 10956. Length one way is 2.5 miles, so it isn’t TOO long. The views can be spectacular.

View Whitney Lake in a larger map

Up at the lake, watch for the trout jumping in the lake

New bridge for stream crossing

Be careful on the stream crossing, the bridge is thin

Trout in the lake

Camp robber

Lionshead Rock hike, Minturn Colorado

Chris Ratzlaff — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:29:38 +0000

An often forgotten about hike is the Lionshead Rock hike out of Minturn Colorado. It is a short 15 minute drive from the Antlers at Vail condominiums. Drive west on Interstate 70 to Exit 171 at Dowd Junction and then head south on Highway 24 for a few miles until you arrive in the town of Minturn. Take a left right away upon arriving into town and go across the bridge by the Saloon. As you pass the Saloon, hang a right swinging around the building and go across the railraod tracks to Taylor Street. Head north on Taylor street passing a number of homes (and junky cars, fridges, old snowmobiles, sinks, dishwashers, chairs, dogs, etc) until you arrive at the far end (dead end). Find a parking spot and head to the Game Creek trail (to the East) and start going up the trail. As you go up and past the river for about a 1/2 mile you’ll hang a RIGHT onto the trail which will take you to the Lionshead Rock. It is about a 2 mile climb one way from the trail head.

View Lionshead Rock hike Minturn in a larger map

View from Lionshead rock looking down towards the town of Minturn

Crazy squirrel