Roosevelt Lakes - 12.3 Miles Round-Trip

The Roosevelt Lakes are located 6.15 miles from Camp Rock Trailhead in the Mt Evans Wilderness. This cluster of small tarns sits among rolling alpine meadows under Rosalie Peak (13,575') at the head of Truesdell Creek.

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While the lakes don't stand out among others in the MEW (Chicago, Lincoln, Beartracks, Abyss), the setting is particularly attractive with rangy views and an excellent chance to see bighorn sheep and mountain goats. 

The route follows the Beartrack Lakes Trail 4.95 miles to the Roosevelt Lakes Trail, which splits south on a demanding 1.2 mile - 700' climb to the first lake.

The Roosevelt Lakes Trail is well-marked by cairns but ill-defined in places, especially over treeline.

Cairns are spread out and may be obstructed by willow or difficult to distinguish in open terrain. You'll have some navigational latitude on the way up, but routing must be more precise on the way down to ensure reconnection with the Beartrack Lakes Trail.

Pay close attention to the trail and key cairn locations. Begin your descent before storms threaten - hurried travel can lead to mistakes.

Visitors will enjoy diverse forest environments, solitude and airy alpine landscapes on the hike to Roosevelt Lakes:

See important trailhead closure dates below:

The Beartrack Lakes Trail begins on the east of the Camp Rock Campground. Be sure to complete the required sign-in and free permit before setting out.

The trail drops to a fork (.15 miles), turns right and crosses Bear Creek (.48 miles) into the Mt Evans Wilderness (1.15 miles : 9,420') and 485-acre Beartracks burn area.

Ostensibly barren and skeletal, the burn area is in a natural state of recovery and quite alive with grasses, flowers, berry-bearing shrubs and young aspen stands. This culled area provides unique insight to nutrient cycling, fire ecology and ecological succession.

The trail steepens through denser aspen to a crest (2.05 miles : 9,970') where it dips and moderates into a contrastingly intact spruce-fir forest. It rises steadily on mild-moderate grades to the first of two Cub Creek Trail splits (3.95 miles : 10,720').

Turn right to the 2nd Cub Creek Trail split (4.2 miles : 10,820') and go left. The Beartrack Lakes Trail undulates mildly through the 2011-2012 blowdown with good views across the Mt Evans massif to the Roosevelt Lake Trail split (4.95 miles : 11,105').

The RLT turns south and steepens considerably on a winding path that can be faint in places. It reaches treeline and turns along the edge of it (5.45 miles : 11,600'), where cairns can be especially hard to see as you weave through willow and krummholz.

The trail follows spaced-out cairns across open slopes with great views down Truesdell Creek and high ridges above. It crests (11,805') and drops to the first and largest Roosevelt Lake (6.15 miles : 11,742').

Follow social trails (right) to the second lake (6.25 miles : 11,765'), which requires a short scramble or more circuitous hop across an outlet pool to reach.

Important Trail Closure Note:

The Beartrack Lakes Trail begins within the Mt Evans State Wildlife Area. Public access is prohibited from the day after Labor Day to June 14 the following year, except for hunting permit holders during the regular deer and elk rifle season.

Call 303.291.7227 or visit CPW - Mount Evans SWA for access, closure, permit and use information.