| About White River National Forest |
|
|
| Josephine Lake Trail |
Content provided by |
|
|
|
Ending Elevation:
11,400 Feet
Usage:
Light
Length:
2.0 Miles
USGS Maps:
Mt. Jackson
Elevation Gain:
1,100 Feet
Difficulty:
Moderate
Beginning Elevation:
9,860 Feet
Trail Number:
1,916
Reservation:
No
Season:
May - September
From Carbondale, From Carbondale travel east on Hwy. 82 to Basalt. Turn left into downtown Basalt and follow the Fryingpan River Road about 27 miles. Turn left at road #501,travel one mile past Elk Wallow Campground and take the left fork one half mile to the trailhead on the left side of the roadway (difficult to see). It is marked as Henderson Park. The hike up the trail is strenuous at first but mellows out to the first meadow which is Henderson Park. Take the left fork for another mile to Coffeepot Park. Josephine Lake Trail is just a little further on your right.
Location Information
The trail starts at the junction with Henderson Park trail and ends at the lake. Josephine Lake Trail climbs about 1,100 feet in elevation in just a little over one mile; until you get on the ridge at which time the trail drops down by the lake surrounded by 12,000+ foot peaks. The entire length of this hike; in at Henderson Park trailhead, up to Josephine Lake, out at Henderson Park trailhead; is 10.8 miles from start to finish - a tough one day, yet a beautiful backpack trip. There are great views of the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness to the south with the Elk Mountains off to the right and in the distance. You can also access this trail from Last Chance Creek trail. Wildflowers are in abundance in the meadow on the trails leading to Josephine Lake.
|
|
More Resources at Wildernet |
|
|
