Pierre Lakes - 16.4 Miles Round-Trip

The Pierre Lakes occupy a massive, rocky basin below Capitol Peak (14,130’) and Clark Peak (13,568’) in the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness. No maintained trail reaches the lakes, however a strenuous and navigationally challenging route follows Snowmass Creek and Bear Creek up to the basin. Only experienced hikers should attempt this route.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The hike can be tackled in five parts:

• The Maroon Snowmass Trail to Snowmass Creek (GPS points 1-8)
• Snowmass Creek ford into the Bear Creek drainage (GPS points 9 - 10)
• Unmaintained route up Bear Creek to the waterfall (GPS points 10 – 12)
• Scaling the waterfall (GPS points 12 – 16)
• Waterfall up to the Pierre Lakes (GPS points 16 – 26)

Distances and GPS points provided here are only a guide and individual routes will vary.

The route generally follows an old trail of which parts are still clear or intuitively followed. Other segments follow cairns though you’ll likely find multiple sets. Navigation is much easier past treeline where you can simply trace the creek.

Arguably the biggest challenge is the waterfall on Bear Creek. It’s steep and requires some Class-3 scrambling and bushwhacking through cheese grater-like brush. It can take 1 – 2 hours (each way) to clear the waterfall.

Cairns offer guidance but are easily lost and difficult to follow. This description runs up the right side of the waterfall, and acknowledges but can’t attest to possible routes up the left side.

Travel is generally rugged once off the main trail with heavy brush and long sections of rock, especially leading up to the waterfall and across the Pierre Lakes basin. These sections slow travel and should factor in to your schedule.

Visitors will enjoy stunning scenery throughout that few people have a chance to see:

Maroon Snowmass Trail to Snowmass Creek (GPS points 1-8)

The trail rises through tall aspen to views over Snowmass Creek (1.1 miles : 8,648'). It levels on a high bank to the West Snowmass Trail split (1.45 miles : 8,638') and runs fast on mild grades in a thick aspen forest.

You’ll generally want to cross Snowmass Creek as close to Bear Creek as possible to avoid unnecessary bushwhacking on the far side, but it’s difficult to discern this drainage from Copper Creek (approximately .12 miles before Bear Creek).

Some trip reports suggest there’s a bridge over Snowmass Creek near the ideal cross-point, but it’s hard to find and its condition can’t be verified.

One efficient point is approximately 3.7 miles up the Maroon Snowmass Trail. This approximate location will place you near the mouth of Bear Creek on the north side where you’ll find the designated route.

Snowmass Creek ford into the Bear Creek drainage (GPS points 9 - 10)

Leave the main trail and head down to Snowmass Creek (approx. 3.7 miles : 9,125’).  Snowmass Creek is voluminous, especially during runoff. Prioritize safe crossing over location – once over the best available terrain will naturally funnel you into the Bear Creek drainage and up the north side.

Some trip reports suggest crossing before or just after Copper Creek. It seems unnecessary to cross that early unless volume is prohibitive near Bear Creek.

A decent track leads from Snowmass Creek into the drainage where navigation is fairly straightforward up to the waterfall.

Unmaintained route up Bear Creek to the waterfall (GPS points 11 – 13)

The unmaintained route runs along Bear Creek through intervals of meadow, open rock, tall brush and timber (4.3 mile mark). Terrain is uneven but grades are generally moderate with easy navigation along the creek.

Raspberries are abundant across open slopes. Be mindful of bears, especially where visibility is limited.

You’ll reach a big opening in the valley at the edge of a long rock slide from which you’ll see the waterfall (4.9 miles : 9,640’). Cross this rocky section to a swath of willow between you and the base of the falls (5.2 miles : 9,850’).

You can climb up / around this rugged (and deceptively long) segment, but it’s advisable to stay low and punch through to the far side where you’ll find cairns leading up the right side of the waterfall (5.25 miles : 9,850’).

Scaling the waterfall (GPS points 13 – 16)

Cairns head straight up with Class-III scrambling in places. You’ll likely lose one route and pick up another by following natural lines and best available terrain. Dense brush can present a bigger challenge than rock or pitch on this scramble - the best way is often a hard-nosed punch right through it.

The route climbs 600’+ across boulders, open ledges and brush before tilting back down to glades above the waterfall (note the waterfall isn't 600' tall, but the route leads you higher to avoid cliffs).

Head toward the creek where a good path will soon emerge (5.55 miles : 10,560’). 

Mark your transition point from brush to glades because it’s difficult to find on the return. The waterfall descent is equally challenging and time consuming. Routing is especially important on the return, as it’s possible to get cliffed-out and backtracking is difficult.

Waterfall up to the basin (GPS points 16 – 26)

Once above the waterfall travel moderates to another long, open rockslide (6.0 miles : 10,570’). The valley is flat here but the center is cluttered by willow, forcing you up the rock. Head straight across to find a grassy track that leads to a well-marked creek crossing (6.4 miles : 10,790’).

This is where Bear Creek forks and the route crosses the north fork to a steep ridge between forks (the north fork leads to the lower lakes, and the south fork leads to the largest lake). It follows cairns up this steep ridge while favoring the south side and losing sight of the north side (GPS points 19 – 22).

Cairns seem to disappear as timber thins and big meadows along the south fork of Bear Creek emerge below (7.1 miles : 11,570’). 

Both routing and terrain become much easier as you pass treeline (7.2 miles : 11,525’) into alpine meadows along the south fork of Bear Creek. Follow the creek to a steep rocky ridge (8.1 miles), which you’ll scale to reach the Pierre Lakes basin (8.2 miles : 12,174’).