A hike to Timber Lake The author rests at Timber Lake, the des na on a er an “arduous” diversion
Story and photos by Dave Rusk “Arduous” was the word that got my a en on. Such an interes ng word choice the Na onal Park Service chose to describe a temporary diversion trail around a naturally occurring, slow-moving landslide that crossed the trail to Timber Lake. And yet, a er having climbed the flag-marked trail that takes hikers up one side of the landslide, and then down the other side back to the trail, that was without a doubt the perfect word to use - it was difficult and ring. However, with the excep on of the arduous but brief diversion, the approximately 5-mile trail to Timber Lake is a really enjoyable trail that takes you through montane and subalpine ecosystems before reaching Timber Lake at treeline. The trailhead parking lot is on the west side of the Park, right at the bo om of Trail Ridge Road, across from the Colorado River trailhead. The trail slowly climbs south through lodgepole pines and parallels the upper Kawueneeche Valley road before eventually turning southeastwardly, crossing the southwest slope of Jackstraw Mtn. For a while you travel quitely through lodgepole pine, steadily gaining eleva on. It’s along this stretch I encountered the arduous detour. Elephanthead wildflower
