Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness is home to one of our favorite backpacking trips the Pawnee – Buchanan Loop. Because of this, we have been eager to return and explore more of the area. Diamond Lake is located in the heart of the wilderness area and is widely regarded as one of the best day hikes…
Tag: Indian Peaks Wilderness
Backpacking the Pawnee – Buchanan Loop: Day 5: Pawnee Pass & Brainard Lake
The last day of backpacking the Pawnee -Buchanan Loop trail may be a relatively short distance but it is a daunting way to finish our 36.5-mile trek through the woods. The climb up to Pawnee Pass is along a loose and rocky trail, but the views found in the Four Lakes Zone of the Indian…
Pawnee Lake from Crater Lake: Pawnee – Buchanan Loop: Day 4
Day 4 of backpacking the Pawnee – Buchanan Loop was a short one for us. Some might choose to push on and make this day the final one or take an entire day off from hiking and just enjoy the majestic scenery found around Crater Lake. We choose to push on a short distance to…
Cascade Creek & Crater Lake Trail: Pawnee – Buchanan Loop: Day 3
Day 3 of our backpacking adventure on the Pawnee – Buchanan Loop saw us hiking from one gorgeous mountain lake to another. Along the way, we took in several waterfalls on the Buchanan Pass Trail as well as the Cascade Creek Trail before arriving at the spearhead looking at Lone Eagle Peak and the shores…
Buchanan Pass & Gourd Lake Trails: Pawnee – Buchanan Loop: Day 2
Day 2 of our journey on the Buchanan – Pawnee Pass Loop saw us travel another 6-miles on the Buchanan Pass Trail up and over the pass before turning onto the Gourd Lake trail and climbing up the steep switchbacks another 2.7-mile to our campsite near the lake. It was a day of two tough…