Parika Lake is located on the western slope of Rocky Mountain National Park and is part of the Never Summer Wilderness Area. One of the defining characteristics of this area are four mountains perched on the Continental Divide named after cloud formations. This 11.2 mile out-n-back hike will start at the Bowen/Baker TH and proceed west to Parika Lake which is our destination. The elevation gain is 2,641’ and the elevation at the lake is around 11,000’.
This is not a hike for beginners. If you sign up, be mentally and physically prepared to hike at a moderate pace and go the distance. Do not sign up for this hike if you frequently back out of meetups on short notice and/or provoke others with dialog on controversial topics. This hike is not the time and place for that.
We will rendezvous at 6:15 AM in the parking lot of JAX which is located at 2665 W. Eisenhower in Loveland. Please be on time. From there, we will carpool to the Bowen/Baker trailhead. If there is no parking at this TH we will backtrack to the Timber Lake TH and explore the Poudre Pass Trail. If you are a passenger, bring cash and chip in for gas. We will hike as a group at all times and take multiple breaks as needed. The estimated duration of this hike is 6 hours which does not include the drive to the TH. This is a full day.
I will pack a first-aid kit however I’m not a paramedic. I will do all I can to support you if there is an accident, but you must accept the risk that comes with hiking in a wilderness area. This includes encounters with animals and unforeseen injuries. It is not my intent to discourage anyone. By signing up for this hike, you accept that risk, accept full responsibility for your safety and relieve the event host of any liability attributed to accidents and personal injury during this hike which includes transportation to and from the trailhead.
What to bring? Comfortable boots and hiking poles are gear essentials. I also recommend layering so you can peel off those layers as the temperature rises. Long and short sleeve dry fit type t-shirts under a light jacket are ideal for this. Lightweight gloves also come in handy on those chilly mornings. In addition to those essentials, bring a small backpack with plenty of water to prevent dehydration at high altitude. I usually pack sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, sandwich, (we will have lunch at the lake) favorite snacks, plenty of water and your desire to enjoy life with others in the great outdoors. Finally, we will probably stop at Berthoud Brewing in Loveland after our hike to relax and refuel.
