Roosevelt National Forest, Dry St Vrain trail overnight

Conor spotted a small lake (un-named) atop a small mountain via Google Earth. Since we had been looking for a nice spot for an over-night backpacking trip, and this was only 20 miles away and in National Forest land, we found out spot. The road was not marked as national forest access and the trail is not found on any maps. In fact, the only written documentation we found that this trail even exists is from some person’s blog when he hiked in back in 2008.

We took our chances and drove the new Aerostar van up the mountain to the designated turn, down 1 mile of dirt road, and down another unmarked dirt road before reaching the Dry St Vrain trail head. It appeared to have been complete un-used for many months, with the only tire tracks being a car that used it to turn around in search of asphalt.

Once we got underway on foot, we quickly realized that the trail itself was likely not used at all since last summer and possibly much longer than that. The further we got out, the more over-growth was taking over the trail and then the trail was gone. We new the GPS coordinates to the lake  but we still passed it by a half-mile before aiming ourselves the right direction to bushwhack our way there. It was an adventure, lumbering through a heavily wooded area with large backpacks to boot.

Once we arrived we quickly setup camp before sunset, got to cooking a modest dinner, and pretty much called it a day. It was not until the following morning that we explored around the small lake (only slightly larger than a football field) and the surrounding areas. There was not a single human footprint in the sand around the lake, only elk and deer had been here for some time. The seclusion of this area was absolute… no one else anywhere nearby. No sounds other than the wind whispering to the trees and the ducks flying in to bathe int he shallow lake.

We explored for the first part of the day before hiking back out the other side of the lake. The trail was worse on this side and within a half-mile we had lost it. Once more we relied on the GPS to get us back to the van where we were only 20 minutes away from home, a hot shower and meal.

It has been a long time since we packed out and camped. Although my gear was more suited, and physically I am more prepared, tent sleeping just does not agree with me. I just can not seem to get any sleep when in a tent. I just feel too exposed to the … well, whatever may come up and lick my ear in the night… {shivers}