Brainard Lake

The well-loved Brainard Lake area is one of the most popular portals into the spectacular alpine terrain above Boulder.  When conditions permit, it can also be a great place to spend a half-day on the water.  The jagged skyline of the Indian Peaks make Brainard Lake a very photogenic location, especially when the water is still enough for reflections.  

Brainard Lake with Indian Peaks beyond

The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is generally open for summer use between mid-June and mid-October.  Most uses require a timed-entry reservation through recreation.gov.  The area is very popular and entry windows aren't always readily available.  It's best to plan a week or more in advance or try for a weekday visit.  

Vicinity map

    Rec Area Info: [key]    

    Use: High

    Non-motorized
    Fee: $10 day use;
    Timed entry info
    Access: Paved
    Rec map
    Rec info 
    Weather 

    Lake info:

    [Brainard / Long / Red Rock]
    Scenery: 4 / 5 / 4
    Shoreline Interest: 2 / 3 / 3

    Full elev (natural): 

    10350 / 10520 / 10200 

The South Saint Vrain basin contains a number of beautiful mountain lakes.  Most of the recreational facilities are centered around Brainard Lake, but roadside Red Rock Lake and up-trail Long Lake are decent alternatives to Brainard.  Because the timed-entry permits for the area are specific to each parking lot, a trip here might be dictated by which locations are available.  Another option is to camp at the Pawnee Campground.  However, this area is very popular and campsite reservations tend to fill up very quickly after they are released.  

Brainard Lake, Mt. Audubon beyond

Brainard Lake

Scenic Brainard Lake is encircled by the loop at the end of the the Brainard Lake access road.  It is slightly easier to obtain a timed-entry permit for the Brainard Lake Day Use Area than for the Long and Mitchell Lake Trailheads because of their immense popularity among hikers.  The day use parking area for Brainard Lake proper is clearly signed, just before the loop begins.  From here it as a 350 foot walk to the lakeshore.  

Brainard Lake, looking east

Alternatively, paddlecraft can be launched to Brainard Lake from the Niwot Cutoff Picnic Area. The Niwot Cutoff Trail, just across the loop road, connects directly to the Pawnee Pass and Jean Lunning Trails 0.7 miles to the west.  This is a great option for coupling a morning hike with an afternoon paddle.  The versatility of the Niwot day use site makes it worthwhile to plan ahead for a timed entry reservation here.  

Red Rock Lake

Red Rock Lake is visible on the south side of the access road, just west of the entrance station.  It can be a pleasant paddleboarding alternative if an entry pass to Brainard is not available.  Red Rock Lake is compact, shallow and largely covered with lilies, which makes it better suited for a leisurely float than a wild adventure.  It also has plenty of shallow boulders scattered near the shoreline, so expect some trial-and-error to poke through them.

Lily-covered Red Rock Lake

Long Lake

Long Lake requires a 1/4 mile hike from the Long Lake Trailhead and offers a wilder experience than Brainard on a longer water body.  Entry reservations for the Long Lake trailhead tend to fill especially quickly because of its popularity among hikers bound for Lake Isabelle, Pawnee Pass, and the mountain peaks of the cirque.  Long Lake has 1/2 mile of exposure distance from the winds blowing off the continental divide, so it's important to find a calm day to paddle here.  

Sunset paddle

Weather, Wildlife and Safety Considerations

All of the lakes within the recreation area are subject to the volatile weather of Colorado's high elevations.  Breezy days with gusts over 20 mph are common here.  Early mornings offer the best chances for calm water.  Some days, afternoon winds die down as sunset approaches.  Check the hourly forecast to best predict good-weather windows.  Also check the text forecast discussion for an idea of general weather patterns and disturbances for time periods more the 2 days out.  

Moose wandering on shore

Red Rock Lake

The area around Brainard Lake is home to lots of wildlife.  In particular, moose are attracted to the lakeshores and adjacent bogs.  Sometimes they will even wade into the lakes!  Be aware of the presence of moose or other large animals and maintain a safe distance.   

Sunset behind Mt. Aududon

Area hiking and biking

Colorado's Indian Peaks region is full of adventure and Brainard Lake is one of the area's best access points.  An afternoon paddle on the lake makes a great complement to any one of these outings:

From the Long Lake (or Niwot) Trailhead, a trail hike to Lake Isabelle or Pawnee Pass, or a more adventurous scramble to Navajo or Apache Peak;

From the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, a trail hike to Blue Lakes or the summit of Mt. Audubon.

Also, for the adventurous mountain biker, a challenging loop can be assembled by climbing Lefthand Park Road (just before then entrance gate), traversing Little Raven trail to Brainard Lake, then linking back with the aggressive, boulder-strewn Waldrop trail.  The South Saint Vrain trail also makes a rowdy, satisfying descent to Highway 72 for anyone with the luxury of a willing shuttle.  

Brainard Lake SUP

A wide variety of multi-sport adventures can be crafted in the compact but scenic region.  Plan ahead, keep tabs on the weather forecast, and play safe!