Deadman Lake - 13.6 Miles Round-Trip

Deadman Lake is located 6.8 miles from Independence Lake Trailhead in the Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness. It lies in a wide, level meadow along the South Fork Frying Pan River. While the lake aesthetic is nondescript, the hike in is exceptional.

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There are two ways to reach Deadman Lake from the Lost Man Loop Trail off of Highway 82 (east of Aspen, CO). Arguably the most scenic begins at Independence Lake Trailhead and scales Lost Man Pass to Lost Man Lake, and on to the South Fork Pass Trail.

The South Fork Pass Trail leaves the busy Lost Man Loop and drops into the South Fork drainage, a lightly visited area that supports high concentrations of wildlife. Visitors will enjoy two alpine passes, three lakes, three valleys and great camping on the hike to Deadman Lake:

The trail begins at treeline up to the Hunter-Frying Pan Wilderness Boundary and split for Linkins Lake (.15 miles : 11,615'). It crosses the Roaring Fork (.48 miles : 11,735') and keeps a steady pace between Twinning Peak (east) and Geissler Mountain (west) up to Independence Lake (1.8 miles: 12,487').

Independence Lake fills a shallow bench under Lost Man Pass, with a large tarn .1 mile away that's easy to reach and worth exploring. The trail follows the level shore before turning sharply up to Lost Man Pass (2.35 miles : 12,810').

Lost Man Pass spans a divisive ridge between the Roaring Fork headwaters (south), and the Lost Man Creek drainage (north). Views of the Collegiate Peaks are outstanding from the pass.

The trail tilts down steep switchbacks across short sections of talus to Lost Man Lake (2.75 miles : 12,482'). Anticipate snow patches through mid-summer on this north-facing slope. The trail continues around the lake and arcs NE down valley in a high-alpine landscape.

It drops steadily to a swale-like meadow (4.25 miles : 11,680'), and undulates ruggedly above to the South Fork Pass Trail split (4.95 miles : 11,635'). Expect sections of faint, shifting trail that can be hard to follow with lingering snow or after washouts from here to the lake.

The South Fork Pass Trail breaks NE on a mild climb to South Fork Pass (5.25 miles : 11,725'), which is fairly subtle and perhaps only obvious once you begin a steep descent into the valley below.

Travel moderates in the narrow upper valley back to treeline and the top of Deadman Gulch (6.25 miles : 11,305'). Here it drops 270' in just .3 miles to an abrupt opening in the central valley, and spills into a vast meadow cut by the South Fork (6.55 miles : 11,015').

Take note of this transition point, as the trail between forest and meadow can be hard to find on the return. The trail all but fades in this damp open space, with faint tracks marked sparingly by cairns on the far west side down to Deadman Lake (6.8 miles : 10,965').

Deadman Lake is more of a glorified marshy pond, but the meadows around it are a virtual playground, and major thoroughfare for wildlife. The trail continues about 3.5 miles to its northern terminus.