Wild Basin Area: Finch Lake and Pear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Wild Basin Area: Finch Lake and Pear Lake
Rocky Mountain National Park
Finch Lake is nestled within a dense pine forest in the southeast corner of Rocky Mountain National Park. This shallow, lower-subalpine lake receives slightly less traffic than other Wild Basin Area destinations, making it a good choice during peak summer months. The trail continues past Finch Lake to Pear Lake, located in a remote corner of the Wild Basin Area. Once used as a reservoir, Pear Lake has been successfully restored to its natural state.
| Related Trails: | Pear Lake Finch Lake |
Copeland Lake, near the Finch Lake Trailhead
Views up the Wild Basin valley of Mount Copeland (13,176') and Ouzel Peak (12,716') along the first two miles
Native greenback cutthroat trout in the Wild Basin Area's lakes and streams
The trail skirts the east edge of Finch Lake (9,912')
Grassy aspen groves are a good place to find elk and bear from .8 - 1.5 miles
The trail enters a recovering burn area at 2.55 miles, which provides clear views across the valley
Snow can remain on the trail late into summer, and even year-round at higher elevations
The Pear Lake outlet
Aspen, fir, and ponderosa commingle in a wildlife-rich stretch from .8 miles - 2.0 miles
Pear Lake (10,582'), once a dam but now largely restored to its original aesthetic
The heavy forest surrounding Finch Lake holds snow longer than exposed areas higher up the trail
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