Hike to Windsor Lake & Native Lake

Difficulty: about 10 to 11 miles with about 2,600 feet elevation gain. Highest elevation is just shy of 12,000 feet

This will be a group hike, where we will hike together and everyone will wait at all trail junctions, creek crossings, and occasionally otherwise so that no one hikes on their own for safety reasons. Plan on a moderate pace of about 2.5 mph average moving speed.

HIKE DESCRIPTION: On this hike, we will first hike to Windsor Lake and back, then take the out and back trail to Native Lake. The trail to Windsor Lake is a short, steep climb to a beautiful alpine lake…definitely a bang-for-your-buck route. The Native Lake trail winds through pine forests with beautiful wildflowers in July. You can see Turquoise lake below you and the continental divide rises above you with fourteeners on all sides, so no matter where you look the views are to die for. This is a combination of 2 hikes in alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/windsor-lake and https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/native-lake-trail

DOGS: No dogs allowed on this hike.

ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: We will meet at the Windsor Lake trailhead. To get there, you can click on either of the alltrails links above and click Directions. Or if you use Google maps, you can type in “Windsor Lake Trailhead” for directions. When you get there, look for my blue Subaru Outback.

We wait 5 minutes for late arrivals…but no longer as that is inconsiderate to those arriving timely. So please allow extra time to get to the trailhead.

IMPORTANT: This is a participate at your own risk event! Life is risky. I am not a professional guide and am simply hosting this event. By signing up for this hike you acknowledge that you are capable of performing this hike and that you are solely responsible for your own safety.

NO SHOWS: If you are a no-show to 2 hikes, you will be booted from this meetup group. So please change your RSVP to “not going” if you are unable to make it.

WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING: Water, snacks, layers of clothing, good hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen, bug repellant, sunglasses, hat, gloves, hiking poles (if you find them helpful), and anything else you deem essential.

WEATHER: Here is the NOAA forecast for the hike location. For hourly temps, wind, precipitation, etc., click “Hourly Weather Forecast” in the upper right. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-106.4611700986201&lat=39.239047031481874

REQUIRED WAIVER: Note that if you have not already done so, you must sign the updated waiver with our new meetup name prior to this hike. I will have copies at the trailhead that you can sign or you may print, sign, and bring it with you from the following website: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p728z28jjuwdzws/Waiver%20Corona.pdf?dl=0
If you choose to sign at the trailhead, please arrive early so that we can depart for the hike timely.