Basics
- Location:
- Southwest of Denver
- Setting:
- Mountainous
- Length:
- 22.6 mile roundtrip
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 11.5 to 13.5 hours
- Trailhead Elevation:
- 8200 feet
- Elevation Change:
- 2000 feet
- Season:
- Summer, Fall
Description
This trail provides a less-crowded alternative to the Goose Creek Trailhead. The trail accesses the east side of the Lost Creek Wilderness by following the Wigwam Creek drainage up to an open meadow called Wigwam Park and on to a saddle at the end of the valley. Beyond the saddle, the trail drops down into East Lost Park, then crosses Lost Creek and continues west up the creek to the Lost Park Trailhead. Granite domes along the trail present many opportunities for rock climbing and the nearby streams provide good fishing. Because the trail is almost entirely in designated wilderness, Wilderness regulations apply.
From the Wigwam Trailhead parking area, follow the signs a short distance on an old logging road to a sign on your right where the trail leaves the road. The trail heads generally northwest along Wigwam Creek. The trail rises with a moderate, gradually steepening grade into Wigwam Park. Wigwam Park has a number of beaver ponds and campsites. Be sure your campsites are at least 100’ from the trail and stream. The last stretch to the park has several short, steep, rocky sections of trail. In Wigwam Park the trail intersects the north end of the Goose Creek Trail, which runs up a valley to the south and over a pass into the Lost Creek drainage. Just to the west of the Goose Creek junction, the trail intersects the south end of the Rolling Creek Trail. From here the Rolling Creek Trail climbs steeply to the north, over a ridge, and down the north side to the Colorado-Rolling Creek trailhead on Forest road 560, west of Wellington Lake.
From Wigwam Park the trail continues its gentle rise to the pass at the end of the valley and then descends into East Lost Park, an open valley surrounded by outcrops and domes of Pikes Peak granite. In the middle of the park, the trail crosses Lost Creek and then follows it upstream to the Lost Park Trailhead and its intersection with the Brookside-McCurdy Trail.
Details
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Useful Map(s):
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
1) Wigwam Trailhead: Drive west from Denver on US 285 for 23 miles to Pine Junction. Turn south (left) at Pine Junction on to Jefferson County 126 toward Pine and Buffalo Creek. Drive 21.8 miles on Jefferson County 126. Turn south (right) onto Forest Road 211 that leads toward Cheesman Reservoir. Travel 2 miles and bear west (right) at the sign pointing to Goose Creek. Drive 1.1 miles in a westerly direction until you reach a fork in the road. Bear right on Forest Road 560 and, again bearing right at the next fork, drive 4 miles to the road to the trailhead. Turn left and drive 1.3 miles to the trailhead parking.
2) Lost Park Trailhead: Drive west from Denver approximately 52 miles on US 285 to approximately 2.5 miles west of Kenosha Pass (and 1 mile before Jefferson), turn left (east) on Park County 56 (Lost Park Road) and drive about 20 miles east to the entrance of the Lost Park Campground at the end of the road. As you approach the campground the trailhead parking is on your right. There is also a small parking area at the far end of the campground. There is a small fee for parking either place.
