Haynach Lakes - 16.7 Miles Round-Trip

The Haynach Lakes are located 8.35 miles from Green Mountain Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. They lie at the head of a secluded north-south valley highlighted by large alpine meadows, braided streams and abundant wildflowers.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

This long but moderate trail follows Tonahutu Creek past Granite Falls and Big Meadows into the upper valley, where it splits away through picturesque meadows to the basin. Visitors will enjoy several desirable campsites, excellent fishing and a good chance to see elk and moose on the hike to Haynach Lakes:

The Green Mountain Trail heads east into a thick lodgepole-fir forest. Look for wildlife in peripheral meadows along the way. Travel quickens to the edge of Big Meadows, Lower Tonahutu Trail and Big Meadows Backcountry Campsite (1.8 miles : 9,397').

Follow signs left on a level path for 1.2 miles around the NW side of Big Meadows. Big Meadows is an immense, marshy expanse ideal for seeing wildlife in big open space.

Spurs provide easy access to the meadow's open perimeter. The trail wraps west to the far side of Big Meadows and resumes travel in a thick fir-lodgepole forest (3.0 miles : 9,441').

The trail reaches Tonahutu Creek (3.35 miles : 9,446'), which you'll closely follow for the next 3.45 miles. The trail rises nominally to a spur for Sunset Backcountry Campsite (3.8 miles : 9,495'), just past which the forest breaks with access to a long oxbow in the creek. Sunrise Backcountry Campsite is located on the east side of this meadow (4.05 miles : 9,511').

The trail undulates in a thick forest through 4.5 miles (9,565'), then steepens on rougher terrain to Lower Granite Falls Backcountry Campsite (5.05 miles : 9,748') and Granite Falls (5.2 miles : 9,785').

Granite Falls fan out and tumble about 20' before narrowing through a series of forceful chutes. A short, steep scramble leads down to outcrops with up-close up views on the water's edge.

The trail switchbacks over the falls to Granite Falls Backcountry Campsite (5.35 miles : 9,921'), located on the edge of another large, wet sedge meadow. Note the phasing of lodgepole and introduction of spruce as you cross 10,000' into an archetypal subalpine forest.

The trail grows steep in thick timber that suddenly breaks on the edge of Tonahutu Meadows (6.05 miles : 10,096'). This remote meadow is an ideal place to glass open space for wildlife, particularly elk and moose. The trail levels to the Tonahutu Meadows Backcountry Campsite (6.05 miles : 10,114') on the far east side before re-entering a healthy spruce-fir forest.

The trail skirts another meadow (6.45 miles : 10,180') and climbs back to the split for the Tonahutu Group and Stock Backcountry Campsite (6.55 miles : 10,245'). The trail curls through a ravine and crosses a small stream to the Haynach Lakes Trail split (6.8 miles : 10,365'). Anticipate this turnoff as the sign is fairly anonymous.

The Haynach Lakes Trail turns sharply north and climbs steeply into a narrow valley. In short time the forest thins and valley opens to a picturesque meadows.

The trail passes two spurs for Haynach Lakes Backcountry Campsite (7.2 miles : 10,663') before edging higher along the east side of the valley. Remain vigilant as the trail frequently loses clarity through open areas. If off course, intuitively follow water up-valley to the lakes.

The trail climbs in short spurts, leveling through long tracts of meadow on the east side of the valley. It crests just before dropping to Haynach Lakes (8.35 miles : 11,078').

This main lake features an open, interestingly contoured shore that's easy to explore. Natural jetties and outcrops provide good fishing access. The big mountain framing Haynach Lake to the west is Nakai Peak (12,216'). The second (smaller) lake is located just down slope of the main.