Hiking – Upper Brush Lakes to Lakes Peak via Peerless Mine Trailhead

Start at Peerless Mine Trailhead near the remains of a miner’s shack. Hike the Peerless Mine Connector trail in the San Isabel National Forest to a signed junction. Go west at the junction to North Brush Creek trail entering the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness. Follow North Brush Creek trail with looking for a poorly visible cairned area on the left side of the trail near the lower Brush Creek Lake. Follow this trail around the north side of a pond to go off trail to ascend a moderately steep tundra slope to the saddle of Lakes peak and UN 12,585”.  Ascend the east ridge of Lakes Peak that starts as tundra and then transitions to loose talus until the summit is gained.  We'll eat lunch at the summit depending on the weather. Descend by retracing your steps down to North Brush Creek trail with an optional stop at the Upper and Lower Brush Creek Lakes. Then return to the Peerless Mine Trailhead. I have done the hike before up to the ridge of UN 12,585 and Lakes Peak. The ascent to the summit of Lakes Peak will be exploratory. Expect the duration of the hike to the summit with a stop at the upper and lower lakes to be at least 5-7 hours. 

The drive to Peerless Mine Trailhead is about 2 hours from Pueblo. Pueblo participants meet at the Pueblo City Park swimming pool parking lot, 221 Parkside Lane 81005 for a 5am departure. Colorado Springs participants meet at the junction of highway 115 and CO 96 in Wetmore at 5:30am. Denver-area participants meet at the Lake Creek Campground on Custer County Road 198 at 6:30 am.

From south of Hillside, which is 11 miles south from US highway 50 or 13 miles north of Westcliff on CO highway 69, turn west on Custer County Road 198. Turn left at a fork in the road after passing the Lake Creek Campground onto FSR 337.  Continue on FSR 337 past the Duckett Creek Trailhead parking area for 2WD vehicles. Stay on FSR 337 for 2 miles to the Peerless Mine Trailhead.  FSR 337 to the Peerless Mine Trailhead may not be found on your maps. The approximate GPS coordinates are 38.277, -105.674.  The road past the 2WD parking lot requires a high clearance vehicle with a 4 X 4 recommended. 

One of the hike participants has volunteered to drive a 4 X 4 that accommodates 7 people in addition to the driver.   Unless another hike participant volunteers to drive a second 4 X 4,  the hike will be limited to 8 people. People who want to carpool will be picked up at one of the three aforementioned stops. As a reminder, the hike starts at the trailhead and does not include carpool travel.