In the ski country of Eagle County near Vail, heavy snows in late spring may linger into summer.

I visited the Missouri Lakes area on Independence Day weekend of 2019, after June snowstorms had dumped a foot or two of snow in the area. As a result, holiday weekend campers found themselves postholing in deep snow around the frozen lakes and they were forced to move to lower-elevation sites. However, these kinds of late snowstorms are rare. Typically this area opens up for hiking in June.

The Missouri Lakes trailhead is about three hours from Woodland Park. From Leadville, drive north on Highway 24 up and over Tennessee Pass. After about 19½  miles, turn left on Homestake Creek Road, aka County Road 73. After about 8 miles, turn right on Missouri Creek Road, aka CR 704, and continue for about another 2 miles to the trailhead.

Although it’s only about 10 miles to the trailhead from the highway, the dirt road is windy and bumpy, but the scenic creek valleys make up for the slow pace.

This high-altitude trail begins at about 10,000 feet and after about a half mile of hiking, hits a creek crossing, which can be swelling during times of high runoff. The trail swings right and climbs uphill, reaching some impressive falls after about another quarter mile. Missouri Creek is a constant trailside companion, and over the next half mile cross a couple well-placed bridges that lift hikers over narrow channels that may be roaring with runoff.

After the second bridge, cross a rocky slab. After another few hundred yards, the landscape transforms to tranquil creek waters lined with willows and a mountainous backdrop. Continue through wide meadows carpeted with alpine pasqueflower before abruptly hitting an avalanche zone across the trail. On my 2019 expedition, this avalanche was obviously fresh, and the violent power of the landslide was apparent with trees scattered like toothpicks and thick trunks snapped like twigs. The trail was buried and crossing the slide was difficult, but I was able to find the trail by sticking close to the creek.

Just beyond the avalanche, the drama continues as the trail travels up a tight canyon right alongside the falling creek, misting hikers as they skirt the creek edge. After about another quarter mile, cross another avalanche zone that has cleared the way for mountain views, then reach the first of the Missouri Lakes after about another 1½ miles. Over the next three-quarters of a mile, the trail bisects more lakes then begins a steep climb of about 500 feet over the next half mile to the top of Missouri Pass. Take some time to enjoy the panorama before retracing the route for about 4.25 miles back to the trailhead.

Joe LaFleur has lived in Woodland Park since 2016 and is a hiking enthusiast that hits the trails weekly. He has successfully summited over 150 unique 13ers and 14ers in Colorado. Contact Joe with questions or feedback at joe@betterbirdwatching.com. Hiking is great exercise but can be hazardous. Always be sure to plan well, check the weather, bring a printed map, tell someone where and when you are going and contact them when you return safely.