Monarch Lake at Sunset. This is just past the southeast reach of Lake Granby.
A four mile (6.6 kilometer) trail leads you around the lake and the dense forest
and wetlands at its far end where large streams bring snowmelt from the
Continental Divide. If you get an early start, you can hike up the remarkable
valleys ahead. Far up to the left is Lone Eagle Peak and Gourd Lake.
Far up to the right is Coyote Park and Pinnacle Vista.
See below for travel directions.

.. return to scenery list ..

To reach Lone Eagle Peak, start by winding around the left side of Monarch Lake.
You'll be on the Buchanan Creek / Cascade Creek Trail. 3½ miles up from Monarch
Lake there is a side trail that will take you to Buchanan Creek and another trail to
Gourd Lake. To get to Loan Eagle Peak you continue on the main trail, cross
Cascade Creek and then follow the creek. Two miles ahead you have the choice of
going to Crater Lake and Lone Eagle Peak or taking a steep side trail up to the top
of Pawnee Pass on the Continental Divide.

To reach Coyote Park, at the very beginning of Monarch Lake take the "south-side" trail
and wind around the right side of Monarch Lake. At the far end of the lake, as soon as
you cross Arapaho Creek you'll see the faint remains of the Arapaho Trail. The trail is
long but easy; it takes you through a forest of the tallest and widest trees in Grand County.
Many of them are thickly draped with lichen. The wild flowers in places can reach over
your head. The trail from Coyote Park to Pinnacle Vista is near impossible to find ...
These back country trails are in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. During most of
the year they are covered with snow. Trail maintenance is marginal ... For overnight
camping, you need a permit from the U.S. National Forest Service.