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I want to backpack near Brainard lake, will I be post holing the entire time? Thanks!

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The area around Brainard Lake is in the Four Lakes Backcountry Zone and camping is prohibited from May 1 through November 30. Camping is allowed in other zones in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, but a camping permit is required. Check the U.S. Forest Service website for a complete listing of the regulations. Right now, most of the trails above 10,000 feet are snow packed so there will be some post holing. The snow is melting rapidly, so the trails are improving every day.

Anyone go up there this weekend? How are the trails?

CODave wrote:Anyone go up there this weekend? How are the trails?

I went yesterday. The road is open to the lake but not to the trailheads so you do have to walk the extra mile to the trailheads. Some small snowdrifts on the early part of Beaver Creek trail, turning to mud rapidly, a couple larger patches of snow to cross on the switchbacks up the trail but very very clear what the trail is and you can't get lost. More or less no snow on the trail above the treeline and everything was gorgeous, green and full of wildflowers!