Trip
BPX Trip – BPX 3-Day: Crater Lake from Monarch Lake TH
This challenging 14.4 mile trip is a beloved Colorado classic, ending at the photogenic Mirror Lake with Lone Eagle Peak's distinctive profile reflected in the still alpine waters. NOTE: This trip is for BPX members only.
Contacts
- Tue, Aug 26, 2025 — Thu, Aug 28, 2025
- Backpacking Section
- Backpacking
- Adults
- Challenging
- Challenging
- Mileage: 14.4 mi
- Elevation Gain: 2,698 ft
- High Point Elevation: 10,360 ft
- Pace: 1.5 - 2.5 MPH
- 2 (4 capacity)
- 1 (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Day 1: Hike from the Monarch Lake TH on the Cascade Creek Trail (#1) to Mirror and Crater Lake (7.25 miles, +2,377 / -340 ft.). Camp only at designated sites and avoid the group site, which is reserved as part of the permit process. Other permits allow camping at any open designated site around the lakes (check with Forest Service ahead of time, as these regulations might change).
Day 2: Do one of the following optional day hikes:
- Optional Day Hike: Pawnee Pass, 8.3 miles, +-2,850 ft.
- Optional Day Hike: Pawnee Pass & Pawnee Peak, 9.25 miles, +-3,248 ft.
- Optional Day Hike: Pawnee Pass & Shoshoni Peak, 10.0 miles, +-3,593 ft.
Day 3: Hike back to Monarch Lake TH (7.25 miles, +340 / -2,377 ft.)
Overall Route: 14.4 miles, +-2,816 ft.
NOTES:
- By joining this backpack trip, you are agreeing to:
- Evenly split the cost of the IPW camping permit, the parking fees, and the cost of carpooling, and
- Going on one of the Day 2 optional day hikes.
- More information about Indian Peaks Wilderness is available here.
- Please view this document with everything you need to know about Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Meeting Place: TBD
Google Map Driving Directions: From the Colorado Mountain Club (Golden, CO) to the Monarch Lake TH.
Required Equipment
$20 annual BPX Membership Dues are required to participate. Please contact the office at 303-279-3080 ext. 3 or office@cmc.org to join the pack!