The Lost Man Trail swings in a 9-mile arc through the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness Area on the west side of Independence Pass. You can hike any length as an out-and-back, perhaps targeting a mountain saddle or alpine lake as your destination, or you can set up a shuttle to complete the horseshoe-shaped trail. It’s true, the trailheads are only 4.5 miles from one another, theoretically making a loop hike of less than 14 miles. But the walk between the trailheads is along narrow, winding Colorado Highway 82, a jaunt that is not advised for safety reasons.

The trail can be hiked in either direction. The lower trailhead is directly across Highway 82 from Lost Man Campground, where campsites sit in a pine forest, and drinking water and toilets are available. This makes a great home base for this and other area hikes, bike riding, a visit to the Independence mining town site, and also for fall leef peeping. This is a high-altitude hike beginning at 10,500 or 11,500 feet (depending on trailhead) with an altitude gain of 1,300 feet or more. Note: Independence Pass is closed in winter.

To get there: Take Highway 24 west to just outside Buena Vista, where you’ll turn north (right), as if you’re headed to leadville. After you pass through tiny Granite, look for the left turn onto Colorado Highway 82, which takes you through Twin Lakes and over winding Independence Pass. The Lost Man trailhead is about 14 miles east of Aspen. The upper trailhead, shared with Linkins Lake Trail, is another 4 miles east, at the last switchback (north side of the road) below Independence Pass. If you’re driving from the Springs, both trailheads will be on the right side of the road.

Hike: Starting from the Lost Man trailhead, take the trail left of the bulletin board/map by the Lost Man Trail parking area, and you’ll quickly cross a wooden bridge. Take the right fork about a half-mile into the forest, and continue to Lost Man Reservoir.

Walk around the left fo the reservoir and turn right at the junction (left goes to South Fork Pass). The trail gradually climbs to Lost Man Lake and then ascends steeply again to the top of Lost Man Pass (12,800 feet). If you lose the trail, look for the cairns. The trail descends steeply to Independence Lake. From there the trail descends gradually to highway 82 at the Linkins Lake trailhead. Several trails branch off Lost Man Trail, so a myriad of hiking choices in terms of distance and difficulty await. For instance, if you start at the upper trailhead, you can make the 1-mile round-trip to Linkins Lake; you’ll see the sign. Hike up, take a break, then hike back down. If you start your hike at the upper trailhead, you’ll do your climbing early on. Once you hit the saddle above Independence Lake (about 2.5 miles from the trailhead, the bulk of the hike is downhill.

Details:  Located in the Aspen District, White River National Forest. Call 1-970-925-3445 for information. Dogs on leash are allowed

Trip Log: 3 boots- 9 miles one way – 1,300 foot elevation gain