RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

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rider
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RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by rider »

Is there some reason the CDT from Milner Pass to Mt. Ida is not on maps? Also, has anyone gone to Lake Arrowhead from Milner Pass? Is the trail well defined? Is the off trail portion of the route to Lake Arrowhead pretty straight forward?

I'm trying to assess if I can day hike to Lake Arrowhead for a couple hours of fly fishing (9 to 11 hours round trip type of day).

I'm in good shape, so I think the distance and elevation is within range assuming the terrain is not too bad. For example, I'm planning to day hike to Haynatch Lakes during this same trip (16 miles round trip).

Link below shows that the trail looks nice, so it's a mystery why my maps do not show a trail.
http://www.summitpost.org/tundra-traver ... -05/170683
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lodgling
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Re: RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by lodgling »

The trail to the Ida summit it great. I can't answer your question about getting to Arrowhead Lake. The reason I am responding is to point out that given the amount of time you are setting aside for your hike, I would point out that the ridge from Milner to Ida seems to be a magnet for afternoon thunderstorms, which you may have a tough time assessing from down at the lake.
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ChrisRoberts
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Re: RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by ChrisRoberts »

Well, it isn't actually part of the official CDT...just a unmaintained trail from years of wildlife and hikers that happens to follow the divide. The true CDT heads down from Ptarmigan Pass to Big Meadows and into the southern Never Summers. As for why the Ida trail isn't on the map, the NPS probably doesn't want to advertise it. There are lots of unmaintained climbers trails in the park that aren't found on maps.

I've dropped down to Highest and Azure Lake from Cracktop, never been farther down into the Gorge Lakes than that though. I've looked into it though, if you're up for the distance and elevation gain it should be pretty straightforward. Just follow the long slope north of the lakes down and fight some shrubs over to Arrowhead. As was said earlier, the biggest concerns are thunderstorms.
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JohnP FTC
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Re: RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by JohnP FTC »

I did this exact hike a few years ago. Cool area. From Milner to Arrowhead and back is very doable as a daytrip.

Tight lines,

-John
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rider
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Re: RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by rider »

Thanks for the responses. I was starting to get concerned that maybe the NPS had the trail posted as being closed, but that's apparently not the case.

Thunderstorms on the ridge would be definite risk, since I would be coming back in the late afternoon.
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Mark A Steiner
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Re: RMNP -- Milner Pass to Mt. Ida to Lake Arrowhead

Post by Mark A Steiner »

The same thing happened to me back in '08. Threatening skies and lightning stormed in from the southwest so I turned back. Then, upon returning to Milner, the storm broke up and dissipated. You just don't know.
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