Lost Creek Wilderness

[FINOCJ]

Wife and I did a short 24 mile, 3-day/2-night backpack loop in the Lost Creek Wilderness over Labor Day. Its an interesting area on the western edge of the Rampart Range and extends from near Cheesman Reservoir up and over to Kenosha Pass. For our MTBers - this is just south of Buffalo Creek area. For those that have run China Wall, this is the area immediately to the north. Geologically its most notable for the massive outcroppings of the red/pink South Platte granite (essentially the same as the Pikes Peak granite just a little to the south). The granite weathers into gravel (gruss) and makes for a very porous and permeable surface that water flows into and through easily. Many of the creeks appear and disappear into the ground as they flow along both above and below the surface. The granite is quite fractured and allows for a surprising amount ground water collection - thus even after one of the driest summers on record around here, there was still decent flowing water and lots of greenery. This area (squeezed between the Rampart Range to the east and the Tarrryall Mts to the west) doesn't get to the classic high alpine elevations normally associated with the high peaks further west, and ranges from 8000-11,500 feet or so. Also noticed some of the first fall aspen colors turning yellow/gold.

what it generally looks like:


some big aspens in the meadows:


a granite cave and spring - cool to see water flowing right out of the granite.


interesting terrain - looks pretty rugged but really wasn't too hard getting around


Night 2 camp


Above 11,000' - fall colors starting

[JandDGreens]

Nice James! Not sure if it is the same area but there is some hiking trails just north of China Wall that I would like to hike. Very different type of terrain. But the trail heads are just off 77

[Spieg]

Been around that area quite a bit as it's pretty close to town usually not too crowded. I usually access from Wellington Lake, but Goose Creek is closer to the more scenic part of the wilderness (Harmonica Arch, etc...). For those not into backpacking, car camping and day hike access from the Lost Park Campground would be my recommendation. One word of caution, I've been warned not to drink the water as it can be quite high in mineral content (especially where it comes up from the ground).

[FINOCJ]

We accessed from goose creek and did the ccw loop using mcurdy park, lake park and Hankins trails.