Basic Snowshoe – Left Hand Reservoir

This will be a reverse lollipop snowshoe (or microspike) hike from the Brainard Lake Recreation Area winter parking lot. We'll follow the Gateway Connector Trail and turn west onto the Sourdough trail, cross the Brainard Lake Road and continue along the Showshoe Trail #814.3 to the intersection with the CMC Ski Trail where we'll turn south and find the Left Hand Reservoir Road which we'll follow to the reservoir. Depending upon the conditions we may do some off-trail exploring around the reservoir. We'll be rewarded with some spectacular views of Niwot Ridge flanked by Kiowa, Arikaree, Navajo, Apache, Shoshoni, and Pawnee peaks. We'll hike mostly in the tress until we get to the reservoir. Our route will keep us out of avalanche risk areas. We'll find a place near the reservoir to have lunch/snack. We'll return along the Left Hand Reservoir road until we intersect with the Littel Raven Extension Trail which will take us to the Sourdough Trail. We'll head north to return to the parking lot. Our pace will accommodate all participants. Overall ~ 4 miles and 650 ft elevation gain. (Left Hand Reservior - Snowshoe - CalTopo)

Carpool Place & Time: Meet at US 36 & McCaslin Blvd PnR-South 7:30AM for a 7:45AM departure (US 36 and McCaslin Blvd Park and Ride - South - Google Maps)

We'll then carpool to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area winter parking lot (Brainard Lake Winter Lot - Google Maps)

Additional carpool meeting place could include location further north.