Pawnee Pass is located on the Continental Divide, capping a divisive ridge between the Mitchell Creek drainage (north), and Isabelle Glacier drainage (south). The trail to Pawnee Pass is highlighted by Long Lake, Lake Isabelle and miles of open tundra. Pawnee Peak is a .5 mile, 400' climb from Pawnee Pass with great views across the Indian Peaks and Wild Basin Area of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Lake Isabelle (10,868')

Some alpine plants take 2 or more years to form flower buds, which survive winters below the surface and then open and produce fruit with seeds in the few weeks of summer

From Pawnee Peak: Mt. Audubon, with Little Blue Lake (left) and Blue Lake (right) in the foreground

The trail rises quickly to Lake Isabelle (2.1 miles : 10,868')

The columbine genus arrived in North America 10,000 - 40,000 years ago from Asia over the Bering land bridge

Shallow tarns (glacial or snow fed pools with no outlet) dot alpine benches on the climb to Pawnee Pass

The same alpine routes have been used by human inhabitants for thousands of years

Moose antlers are covered in a living velvet tissue that supplies nutrients through a network of blood vessels; the velvet is scraped off in late summer once the antler has solidified underneath

Ptarmigan are the smallest grouse species, distinguished by their perennially white tail feathers and feathered legs

Long Lake is a short hike with mild grades ideal for families, running and winter recreation

The Pawnee Pass Trail drops 1665' in 1.85 miles to Pawnee Lake on the west side of the Divide

A string of tarns on the north side of the valley are accessible with some creative off-trail routing

Thin air, short growing seasons and poor soil quality limit growth at high elevations

Pawnee Peak (12,943') is a short, steep climb to the northeast of Pawnee Pass

Cushion plants escape strong winds by growing close to the ground, and anchor themselves with long taproots

View of Lake Isabelle on the descent from Pawnee Pass

Despite limited access through the winter, the Brainard Lake Rec area is the most visited destination in the Boulder Ranger District

Many flowering plants of the tundra have dense hairs on stems and leaves for wind protection, or red-colored pigments capable of converting the sun's light rays into heat

Where tundra soil is well-developed, grasses and sedges are common

View of Shoshoni Peak (12,967') from the Pawnee saddle

There's less oxygen available to us in the lower air pressure environment of high elevations

The Continental Divide at Pawnee Pass (12,550')