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The Wheeler Lakes are nestled in the very southern tip of Eagle’s Nest Wilderness. The trailhead starts right off of I-70, where the traffic is heavy and one would never think that two beautiful lakes are hiding just 2.8 miles away. If a nice morning or afternoon hike in the mountains of Summit County is what you are looking for, these lakes could be the answer. The Wheeler Lakes were my answer in mid-May 2004. I was getting very impatient waiting for summertime adventures to begin, so I decided to take a short one-night adventure to these lakes.
I was able to begin this backpacking trip around 4:00 PM on a beautiful Friday afternoon. My plans were to backpack to the lakes just in time for dinner, and hopefully in time for a great sunset. I did not know what the snow conditions were going to be like on this trail, but I felt pretty confident that I would be able to make it all the way to Wheeler Lakes with no problem.
The beginning of the trail draws a lot of attention from highway drivers. Some did not realize that I was hiking on a trail instead of trying to hitchhike. After a brief run along the interstate, the trail veers toward the Eagle’s Nest Wilderness. The hike is a steady ascent (over 1,300 feet) despite its short distance. It wasn’t long before I was hiking the slope to the wilderness boundaries. After hiking half a mile, I reached a wooden sign that indicated I was entering the Eagle’s Nest. The traffic of the highway disappeared by now, and I felt like I was in the wild.
Not long after I entered the wilderness boundaries, a great clearing appeared. Here I saw Copper Mountain and the splendor of the Ten Mile Range. I thought this was a good place to take a quick breather and enjoy the view before the trail became a steady uphill ascent. After I rested, I started heading up the next mile and a half of the trail. This was the most difficult section of the entire trip. I entered the heavily wooded area. At this point the snow started to become a small problem. Small patches of snow appeared at first, but these turned into long stretches of the white stuff as I neared the lakes. There was a point where I came along a drift of snow that was piled chest high - this proved to be a challenge to cross in a 50+ pound pack! I made it through successfully after ten minutes of pure struggle.
Less than half a mile away from the first lake, I saw a clearing overlooking the very southern tip of the Gore Range. This area can be very picturesque if the conditions are right (and they were for me on the descent down).
I stopped just shy of the lakes to set up camp in a beautiful meadow overlooking Copper Mountain and the peaks beyond. A short uphill climb was all that sat between my campsite and the first lake (my favorite). Great views were very close. The second lake, which is not surprisingly near the first, was still heavily covered in snow. The second lake was still accessible providing that a hiker was willing to get wet feet.
I was able to rise from my tent around 6am and do a little adventuring. I took several photographs of the lakes in the early morning light. I was able to sit back and smile and enjoy the grand views these two lakes have to offer.
This hike was very exciting for many reasons. The biggest reason was that it provided my first backpacking trip adventure of the season! I was the only one on the trail in both directions - the only company I had was a family of elk eating their dinner in the evening light. A few rough patches dotted the adventure - the sunset I was hoping for never happened, and I had to cook with a stick and eat with my hands (next time I will try not to forget the silverware). I froze my behind off through the night, as the temperatures dropped into the lower 20’s. Things like these only enhance the adventure, and overall it was a fabulous start to the season.
The short trek up to Wheeler Lakes is not the most popular hike in Eagle’s Nest Wilderness but it makes for a nice trip. Access to the trailhead can be somewhat of challenge despite its location next to the highway. Parking is available at the rest stop before the exit to Highway 91 (Copper Mountain). Another option is to take the exit at Copper, cross over the bridge, and find parking by the bike trail. The bike trail is located by the gas station on the left. If you wish to shorten the hike by half a mile, I recommend parking by the bike trail.
Though the beginning of the trail is not what you might expect when hiking in Colorado (due to the close proximity of I-70), you will soon understand why the hike to Wheeler Lakes is worthy. Offering great views of Copper Mountain and the Ten Mile Range, this hike offers some great beauty despite its short distance of under 3 miles. I recommend this hike for the local folk, who generally have the opportunity to get to the mountains often. For those of you who don’t get to adventure in Colorado much, there are other adventures (featuring less asphalt) that I would recommend. Overall, this was another great adventure in the Rockies of Colorado. Until next time... Kevin
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All photos copyright Kevin Adkins
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