Advanced Snowshoe – Blue Lake TH - Sawmill Creek Trail

 This wintry loop hike up Sawmill Creek unfolds through quiet forest, where snow gathers in hushed layers over the landscape and the creek winds through the winter woods. Leaving the established trail, we’ll venture off-trail into the basin, where snow-covered terrain and pockets of open meadow invite exploration and route-finding. We’ll cross Sawmill Creek and descend through the basin before reconnecting with the Sawmill Creek Trail to complete our loop. Along the way, we’ll find a comfortable spot to pause for lunch or a snack and enjoy the stillness of a Colorado winter day. Be prepared for trail breaking, variable snow conditions, and the challenges of off-trail navigation. Our pace will be steady and appropriate for the terrain and conditions, with the goal of completing the loop in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, this hike is approximately 6 miles with 1,000 feet of elevation gain. (Sawmill Creek Snowshoe - Loop - CalTopo)

Carpool Place & Time: Meet at King Soopers, North College, Fort Collins at 7:00 AM, and depart at 7:15 AM (King Soopers Marketplace - Google Maps)

We'll carpool to the Blue Lake Trailhead parking (Blue Lake Trailhead - Google Maps)

Additional carpool location possible further south, if needed.