Beaver Lake Trail
Beaver Lake Trail
4.5
About
Moderate-to-difficult hiking trail that extends 6.6 miles from the Mitchell Lake Trailhead, beginning at 10,500 feet up to 11,300 feet elevation.
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4.5
127 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
38
Average
6
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Richard N
Leesburg, VA47 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I hiked the trail to Beaver Lake today. It was absolutely gorgeous. The trail was in excellent condition except for about 30 feet that was still covered in snow. The lake and surrounding area was pristine. I love this trail and encourage everyone to try it!
Written June 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee M
5 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Awesome hike,so beautiful we started at 8am perfect weather. We hiked from condos and back same way, it took us 3 hours. Carry a water and granola bar Definitely a must do! We encountered horse back riders on the way back down. We would definitely do it again! Beaver Creek golfing and hiking top of the list.
Written November 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve S
Tulsa, OK128 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
This is an awesome hike. The lake is beautiful. Take a fishing pole. I will next time. Take a backpack with water and snacks. It is not an easy hike so avoid if not in reasonable shape. The lake is worth the effort. Almost seven miles roundtrip from BC village.
Written August 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clayton-W-Scott
Memphis, TN62 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Beaver Lake Trail is a pretty serious up hill hike to the lake. An easier option (although maybe little longer) is to take Centential lift up to the Royal Elk trial and hike over to Beaver Lake. We had the whole trail to ourself and had beautiful views the whole hike. The hike over to Beaver Lake on Royal Elk is almost flat (except for the last .25 mile) so it is pretty easy. And then we used the Beaver Lake Trail to hike back down to town center. I would highly recommend this route. The lake itself is beautiful and peaceful. Our round trip was 6 miles. Kids could easily do this hike since it mostly flat and then downhill on the way back.
Written August 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnandbabette
Weston, Fl188 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
We took the guided tour offered by the Beaver Creek Hiking Center and we are very glad that we did! Our guide Nick was very knowledgeable, charming, good company and an excellent instructor. It was the first time that we had hiked with a guide and found it well worth the cost as we learnt about the area, the wildlife, the ski run management, the flora and the fauna. We started at Spruce Saddle then took the Royal Elk trail to Beaver Lake, it cuts across the Birds of Prey runs before ascending to the lake. It is a beautiful and, at least for us, sometimes challenging trail. After a very welcome and adequate picnic lunch at the lake, provided by the Hiking Center, we made our way down the Beaver Lake trail, not nearly as pleasant as Royal Elk. Our thanks to the folks at the Hiking Center and most of all to Nick for a fabulous day in the mountains! We can recommend them and Nick without hesitation or reservation
Written August 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael G
Westminster, CO25 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
We hiked to beaver lake from Bachelor Gulch over the village to village connect trail. This a long hike, you can shorten it up by busing over to Beaver Creek and then up the Beaver lake trail. The village connect trail is beautiful once you get off the ski trails and into the woods. It is moderate up down and flat through the pines and aspens. The wild flowers were popping the weekend we were there. The junction with beaver lake trail is 90 minutes from the Ritz Carlton moving at a good pace. From the junction to Beaver lake is about an hour over single track and old mine road it, it is all up along beaver creek. Once you get to the Holy Cross wilderness sign you are about 15 minutes from the lake. Once at the lake keep heading south to the lake inlet. You have to hike down to it but the reward is no people and a stunning view. We took off our shoes and wadeded across, only about knee deep and muddy bottom, and hiked around the west side of the lake. This is a path less traveled and you will have to bush whack a little. There is a single log crossing the outlet to get you back to the main trail. Back down we took Royal elk trail across to the centennial express, that portion is 55 minutes to cover. At the top of the lift grab a cold one and enjoy the views of the Gore range and the ride down. It's a free ride down.Total time; 4.5 hours and 7 miles. There are a lot of trails all well marked and lots of signs to guide you, if you just do the Beaver lake out and back you will not be sorry.
Written July 25, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maturetraveler9
Houston, TX96 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
We took a hike on this trail today based on the various reviews on Trip Advisor. This was an extremely disappointing hike:
1. Beaver Creek is a gated winter resort not geared toward hiking or nature walking. Parking is very controlled and limited. Info for hikers are hard to find. Sign posts to trailheads non-existent. Hikers need to park at the Village Center as the resort prohibits parking elsewhere and many roads are marked for residents only. All of this means one has to hike along road paths up the hills, then on to a gravel road through many muddy construction sites (parking along this gated road are for a large number of constructions or for services folks only - no trailhead parking ). After 25 minutes of hiking along civilization, one would get to the trailhead.
2. After the trailhead, the trail is along a small gravel road along the Beaver Creek into the ski area. On the other side of the creek is another larger gravel road for construction vehicles. Evidence of past constructions are everywhere.
3. After 1.30 miles and a few hundred feet of additional elevation, one would arrive near another ongoing busy construction site.
4. The trail continues along the creek in the forest. One can still hear the construction pounding for another 15 minutes. There is no opening vista or scenery, no meadow clearing, only artificial clearing due to ski trail maintenance.
Why should any hiker endure 2.75 miles uphill hike to see human development and hear construction / man made noises before one get to a more natural area?
Comparing with hikes at other ski resort area Aspen (Maroon Bell, Independent Pass Area), Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Taos etc.. and national parks, this hike deserves a 2 star only. This is a hike to avoid for nature lovers.
1. Beaver Creek is a gated winter resort not geared toward hiking or nature walking. Parking is very controlled and limited. Info for hikers are hard to find. Sign posts to trailheads non-existent. Hikers need to park at the Village Center as the resort prohibits parking elsewhere and many roads are marked for residents only. All of this means one has to hike along road paths up the hills, then on to a gravel road through many muddy construction sites (parking along this gated road are for a large number of constructions or for services folks only - no trailhead parking ). After 25 minutes of hiking along civilization, one would get to the trailhead.
2. After the trailhead, the trail is along a small gravel road along the Beaver Creek into the ski area. On the other side of the creek is another larger gravel road for construction vehicles. Evidence of past constructions are everywhere.
3. After 1.30 miles and a few hundred feet of additional elevation, one would arrive near another ongoing busy construction site.
4. The trail continues along the creek in the forest. One can still hear the construction pounding for another 15 minutes. There is no opening vista or scenery, no meadow clearing, only artificial clearing due to ski trail maintenance.
Why should any hiker endure 2.75 miles uphill hike to see human development and hear construction / man made noises before one get to a more natural area?
Comparing with hikes at other ski resort area Aspen (Maroon Bell, Independent Pass Area), Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Taos etc.. and national parks, this hike deserves a 2 star only. This is a hike to avoid for nature lovers.
Written October 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheOpsDoctor
Springboro, OH526 contributions
Aug 2019
First, here's the info on the trail head. Follow village road to the church and go past it. If you follow the sidewalk by where the church members park you will see the sign for the 5 senses trail. It parallels Village Road all the way to the trail head. My advice is to skip the senses trail and stick to the road.
The trail is pretty much up hill the entire way. Because of this it requires more exertion than people who are less than fully fit might be willing to commit.
After making it to the lake, we then cut over on the Royal Elk Trail because other reviews stated it was flat and would lead to a free gondola ride down. This is only partly true. The R.E.T. is very steep for the first 0.8 miles. It is more demanding in many placed than the Beaver Lake trail. One key thing no one mentioned.... Free gondola ride down stops at 4:30. If you miss it, its a REALLY long way down.
The trail is pretty much up hill the entire way. Because of this it requires more exertion than people who are less than fully fit might be willing to commit.
After making it to the lake, we then cut over on the Royal Elk Trail because other reviews stated it was flat and would lead to a free gondola ride down. This is only partly true. The R.E.T. is very steep for the first 0.8 miles. It is more demanding in many placed than the Beaver Lake trail. One key thing no one mentioned.... Free gondola ride down stops at 4:30. If you miss it, its a REALLY long way down.
Written August 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen A
Norfolk, NE44 contributions
Jul 2018
This was told to us as being a moderate hike. The first part was, the 5 senses hike, piece of cake. Then we went on toward Beaver Lake hike. Way hard! But we were to far in so we forged on. Took some hikers advice and was going to cut across and eventually ride the Gondola down. Well, talk about treturous! Death defying drop offs, steep rocky terrain, narrow horrific paths! So we went along thinking we could make it, more hikers said we were STILL 2 MILES AWAY from this fabled gondola ride so we had to turn around and hike BACK FROM WHERE WE CAME FROM. We are from Nebraska, low elevation and flat. We seriously about had a heart attack.
In summary, take tons of water, walking sticks, nerve pills and don’t be old or even slightly overweight,
In summary, take tons of water, walking sticks, nerve pills and don’t be old or even slightly overweight,
Written July 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sunnyskier
Vail, CO217 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
After talking to the guide at the Beaver Creek Hiking Center we realized it was not the easy hike we had been told by others. They gave us several options to get there which really made a difference! The route our friends told us to take was closed due to a New Fire Station being built. Glad we stopped by the hiking center. There is a lift option that eliminated 90% of the uphill, but we went with a guide and got tons of information about the area, plants, animals, even got to see a Moose. Ask about the hike and wine option to make it even shorter.
Written August 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello! Thank you for your detailed review. Can you tell me - how long are the parts of Royal Elk that are truly “cliffside” / right along the edge? is it most of the hike or just a small portion?
Written August 15, 2019
Sorry I didn't notice your question sooner, but the Vail area does have wildflowers. Hopefully you enjoyed them on your travels.
Written September 1, 2017
Is this trail doable during February or just in the summer?
Written January 17, 2016
We did it in November, so it's definitely doable in the winter, but make sure you have the right boots to do it.
Written September 1, 2017
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