Mohawk Lake and Lower Mohawk Lake - 6.7 Miles Round-Trip

Lower Mohawk Lake (11,861') and Mohawk Lake (12,110') are located 2.95 and 3.35 miles from the Spruce Creek Trailhead south of Breckenridge, CO. The lakes sit just at and above treeline along the south flank of Mt Helen in a spectacular glacial valley in the Ten Mile Range.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Those with time may divert to nearby Mayflower Lakes, or continue past Mohawk Lake through open tundra to a string of 5 alpine lakes and tarns in the upper valley:

The trail heads west over Spruce Creek (.1 miles) and climbs steadily through aspen, fir and spruce for 1.4 miles to the Wheeler Trail split on the edge of a large, marshy meadow (1.5 miles : 10,965'). This is a good place to break and look for wildlife, epsecially moose and elk.

The Spruce Creek Trail turns west beside the meadow up to Spruce Creek Road, (2.0 miles : 11,120’), which you’ll follow to its terminus at a water utility station. Cross the dam and follow signs (right) off the road to pick up the trail (2.1 miles : 11,151').

Travel steepens to the Mayflower Lakes split (2.35 miles : 11,285’) and crosses a creek, past which the trail braids in several places.

These social trails typically lead to views of Continental Falls, mining remains or established campsites - and in most cases link back to the main trail artery. Look for cairns to stay on track and do your best to avoid crosscutting sensitive vegetation.

The trail twists steeply by a mining cabin to a marked split for Lower Continental Falls Vista (2.55 miles : 11,385'). It follows a useful mining cable past the falls split up steep open rock to the edge of Lower Mohawk Lake (2.95 miles : 11,810’).

Lower Mohawk Lake lies at treeline below Mount Helen (13,164’), a fine stopping point if limited by time or weather. Continental Falls pour from its outlet, and there’s plenty of shoreline to explore.

The trail continues along the shore before breaking away on a steep, twisting climb through treeline to Mohawk Lake (3.35 miles : 12,073’). The trail braids again in several places on this final push, however intuitive travel leads uphill in each instance.

Mohawk Lake fills a large, steep-walled bowl with great views back down valley of Lower Mohawk Lake and Mt Helen. A tight but navigable shoreline offers anglers plenty of room to cast, though exploration is somewhat limited by pitch.

Scale the lake's north wall to pick up an intuitively followed social trail into the upper valley, which opens dramatically below Pacific Peak (13,950’), Crystal Peak (13,852') and Father Dyer Peak (13,615’).

The route skirts a small lake directly above Mohawk (3.55 miles : 12,219’) and continues across relatively flat open tundra to three more - 3.9 miles (12,334’), 4.25 miles (12,372’) and 4.55 miles (12,438’). A fifth – Pacific Tarn – requires a steep climb with no discernable route past the fourth lake.