Lost Lake via Hessie Trail

Got a pretty late start on the day due to unforeseen circumstances, and were originally planning on camping at Jasper Lake, however with the limited time we had, decided to  stay here instead. Luckily there were open campsites available so we were able to snag camp 1 which was an awesome site. The other camp sites were okay, but in my opinion site 1 is one of the better sites to stay if you plan on camping here. Much like the other lakes in Indian Peaks Wilderness, expect very heavy traffic, especially on weekends with little to no solitude. Hessie trailhead  fills to capacity early in the morning regardless of the day, and on weekends, expect the parking shoulder to be completely full by 6AM. If the trailhead lot is full, you will need to take the shuttle from Nederland HS. We lucked out and got to the trail later in the afternoon as the morning hikers were leaving. Once we found a good spot to park, it was just a short jaunt up to camp where we were met with blue skies and minimal crowds. The trail itself is well kept/marked and offers scenic views with spur trails to a few of the large cascading waterfalls in the area. The lake was very reminiscent of woodland subalpine lakes in the PNW, and as such, had a welcoming “charm” to it. When all the day hikers left in the evening, we shared the lake with only a few other campers which was surprising as this is the easiest lake to backpack to in the area, nonetheless, we still enjoyed ourselves taking in the peaceful sights and sounds of nature. Overnight, a thunderstorm rolled in and dumped on us quite a bit, however by the next morning it had cleared up and made for an easy descent. This is a great area for day hikers who are short on time and don’t want to commit to a long day, and for those who are just getting into backpacking and want to try it out an easier trail.