| The Beaver Creek Trail #911 begins at the Mitchell Lake Trailhead. This is the same trailhead as the Mitchell Lake Trail, but it leaves at the west end of the parking lot, and the Beaver Creek Trail exits to the north.It climbs into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and then in another half mile, switchbacks up a steep pitch. It circles the ridge near tree line, then just above the tree line, about 1.7 miles from the trailhead, the Mount Audubon Trail #913 forks left (west). Beaver Creek Trail continues northward for another 3.4 miles, descending the northeastern flank of the mountain on a very nice old graded trail, dropping into Coney Flats. For the northern half of this distance, it follows the Indian Peaks Wilderness boundary.From the Coney Flats Trailhead, the Beaver Creek Trail heads both west and south. The westward leg of the trail begins on the west side of Coney Creek and takes you back into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, a quarter mile to the Coney Lake Trail #914 to the left (south), then another 1.4 miles to end on the Buchanan Pass Trail #910.The Buchanan Pass Trail continues west 1.9 miles to Buchanan Pass, and north to Middle Saint Vrain Creek. The southward leg of the Beaver Creek Trail begins east of Coney Creek and the little pond. It is a quarter mile on the Coney Creek Road between the two trailheads. There are bridges for hikers across the two forks of Coney Creek that can be quite deep. The trail follows the Indian Peaks Wilderness Boundary, climbing over the shoulder of Mount Audubon. It is 3.4 miles from the Coney Flats Trailhead to the intersection with the Mount Audubon Trail #913, and another 1.7 miles to the Mitchell Lake Trailhead.This trail has been rated "more difficult" and has moderate to heavy usage. Elevation ranges from 9,800' to 11,250'. Depending on how far visitors wish to hike, a round trip can be anywhere from 3.4 to 10.2 miles. |
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