Breckenridge Colorado, The ultimate hiking guide to Mohawk Lakes
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If you’re looking for amazing hiking trails in Colorado, Summit County in the summer and fall will have some of the best hiking in the state. Old mines, alpine lakes, mountain views, and waterfalls are handful of reasons to wake up early to go hiking on any one one of the many different trails in the area . Just outside of Breckenridge is a fun day hike and an entry level backpacking hike called Mohawk Lakes. No overnight permits needed and it’s a doable hike in one day.
In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Mohawk Lakes, trail details, what to expect, and overnight backpacking info. Alright lets do thisss.
Where is Mohawk Lakes
Located in the White River National Forest of the Rocky Mountains, Mohawk lakes is in Blue River Colorado, just outside the town of Breckenridge. Part of the Ten Mile Range, this trail is a favorite for locals and visitors. Other towns nearby are Fairplay, Alma, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.
Coordinates for the trailhead
How to get to Mohawk Lakes
The starting point for Mohawk lakes will be at the Spruce Creek Trailhead off of highway 9, 10 minutes south of Breckenridge. If you take I-70 or 285 you’ll end up on highway 9 and then turn onto Spruce Creek Road. From there you’ll pass by a number of houses in a neighborhood and drive up on a dirt parking lot. On the weekends the trailhead gets pretty crowded so try to get there really early or around noon to beat the crowds. It’s ok to park on the side of Spruce Creek Road as you’ll notice plenty of vehicles leading up to the trailhead on busier days.
Below I listed times and distances from major areas in Colorado to the trailhead.
Denver
I-70: 1 hour 45 minutes/84 Miles
285: 2 hours 10 minutes/106 Miles
Boulder
I-70: 2 hours 25 minutes/90 Miles
285: 2 hours 45 minutes/117 Miles
Colorado Springs
US 24 W to CO 9 N: 2 hours 8 minutes/103 Miles
Fort Collins
I-25 South to I-70 W: 3 hours 15 minutes/144 Miles
How long is the hike?
It really depends on your speed, but for day hiking it has taken me about 6 hours round trip to the top lake, which includes hanging out at each lake for a little bit. I’m sure it can be done in a much quicker time frame, it all depends on your speed.
Elevation Gain: 2,106 feet/642 Meters
Distance: 8.4 Miles/13.5 Kilometers
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Trail Type: Out and Back
Can families with children do this hike
Definitely, I’ve seen a number of families on this trail with kids and even moms and dads with the backpacks that carry toddlers or infants in them.
Best time to Go
Depending on the snow year, End of June through late October. If we get a lot of snow that season, then the trails usually are not free of snow until late June. On the flip-side, if it starts snowing early in the fall, trails may not be as easy to hike, making it less enjoyable. I’ve been in September as well as in the summer and both are some of the best times of the year to hike this trail. Fall is a nice time in Breckenridge to hike any trail because of the leaves changing, so that’s also something to consider when deciding when to do the hike.
Like anything, weekends will be a lot busier as well as mornings. I would either try to go really early in the morning or mid day as long as there aren’t any afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast!
Are dogs allowed on the trail
Yep, you will see dogs along the way, most are off leash too. Always try to keep your dog in site if off leash, because there is plenty of wildlife in the area!
Can you Backpack this trail
Yep, it is a great trail if you just got into back packing and want to test out your equipment and get use to your pack. No overnight permits are required and you also do not need an overnight parking pass to leave your car at the trailhead. Make sure to check fire restrictions in the area if you decide to build a campfire!
Trail Details and how to access the Upper Lake
Once you’ve parked your car you’ll want to look for the Spruce Creek Trailhead, located on the left side of the road right after the main parking lot area. This part of the trail takes you through a wooded area until you reach the first lake. As you walk through the woods, you’ll pass by an opening on the right side that opens up to some of the best views of the hike, overlooking part of the Ten Mile Range. This is also a perfect resting point if you aren’t use to the elevation!
From there you’ll continue on the Spruce Creek Trail until you hit Spruce Creek Road (the same road where you initially parked, but much farther up the mountain). This road will take you to the start of the Mohawk Lakes Trail:) The first lake you’ll come up on is Mayflower Lake, follow the signage for a slight detour on the Mayflower Lakes Trail to access this lake.
Once you get back onto the Mohawk Lakes trail the elevation gain gets a little more intense and it also becomes a little more difficult to know if you’re on the right trail or not. My best advice is to look either at a map on All Trails (download ahead of time due to lack of service) or to follow the signage and trail as best as possible. There will also be incredible waterfall views as you make your ascent to the Lower Lake. Lower Falls Vista will be near a couple historic mining structures, while Continental Falls will be on your way up to the lower Lake on the right side of the trail. Again, there will be signage along the way to access these waterfalls.
After you pass the waterfalls you’ll continue to hike up steeper areas of the trail. The trail will begin to level out and that’s how you know you’re approaching the lower lake. The lower lake has an open backdrop surrounding it, perfect for photography. As mentioned earlier this is a great spot to set up for camping if you back packed up to the lake. I didn’t hike to the top lake until the following morning, but if you set up camp early enough I’m sure golden hour at the upper lake is pretty special.
If you camped at the lower lake and are motivated enough, I would recommend waking up early to catch the sunrise!
best-backpacking-tents
Now that you’ve made it this far, keep going! and head up to the last part of the hike, the Upper Lake. This will be about 15 minutes from the lower lake and the climb isn’t too bad. You’ll hike one last small climb before you reach the top. There’s plenty of places at the top to take in the scenery, chill, and eat a snack. You’re also allowed to fish in the top lake as long as your Colorado Fishing license is up to date.
What to Pack
Rain Jacket- Weather shows up at any given moment in the Mountains, always pack a lightweight rain shell. Burton makes great rain jackets for men and women that have cool patterns and will keep you dry on your hikes!
Sunscreen- Hiking at a high altitude=increased sun exposure so make sure to apply this at least 15 minutes before you venture out. I like Sun Bum, which can be found online at Hansens surf shop out of Encinitas California.
Hiking Poles- Although these might seem “uncool”, they help a lot with balance and footing when hiking. Head over to REI or your local outdoor retailer, as they have a great selection.
Hiking Boots- Proper footwear is a must. There is a ton of options when it comes to hiking boots. These can also be found at REI or your local outdoor gear shop.
Outdoor Clothing- Although outdoor clothing can be expensive it does last a long time. It will be more lightweight, moisture wicking, and more stinkproof when doing stuff outdoors. Try to stay away from anything cotton. I personally like Fjallraven and Mountain Hardwear, but Patagonia, Burton, North Face, and Columbia all make great stuff.
The Descent
Watch your footing as you make your way back down the trail. Please note uphill hikers have the right of way. When you come to the point of taking the Spruce Creek trail back to the parking lot, there is also a service road, on your left, Spruce Creek Road, if you don’t feel like walking through the woods again. The road will probably be a little quicker, and also will take you back to the parking lot.
Please note, if you don’t feel like hiking all the way to the lower lake or top lake you can take a detoured trail (Mayflower Lakes Trail) from the first lake, back to the parking lot.
Watch your footing as you make the hike down as there are rocky, bumpy, and slippery areas. I would definitely do this hike again and I recommend it to anyone in the Summit County Colorado area that loves to hike.
Looking for more Colorado adventure? Check out Leadville, another small mountain town in Colorado not far from Breckenridge. Thanks for checking out the Blog and I’ll see you on the next post.
