Gourd Lake - 16.6 Miles Round-Trip

Gourd Lake (10,795') is located 8.3 miles from Monarch Lake Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. It lies just below treeline in a large, granite bowl west of the Divide. Gourd Lake is similar in appearance to nearby Mirror Lake but with lighter crowds.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

Though fairly long, moderate terrain and 2.7 miles of well-designed switchbacks above Buchanan Creek make Gourd Lake achievable in a day for strong hikers. Visitors will enjoy diverse terrain, berry picking and excellent fishing at Gourd Lake:

The Cascade Creek Trail begins on a level path up the north shore of Monarch Lake to the Indian Peaks Wilderness boundary (1.2 miles : 8,358’). Look for osprey over the lake, moose in the marshy inlet area and raspberries along the way.

It rises to the Arapaho Pass Spur Trail (1.6 miles : 8,367') and steepens under a tall canopy marred by pine beetles.

At 2.05 miles (8,481') the trail meets Buchanan Creek before climbing away on steep switchbacks. It moderates past 2.5 miles and begins a long, level stretch through uniform lodgepole to the Buchanan Pass Trail split (3.45 miles : 8,772').

*There are several established campsites in this area, however some do not conform to Forest Service rules. Only use sites that are at least 100' away from trails and streams.

The Buchanan Pass Trail pitches up and NE along Buchanan Creek in a more open forest. It moderates through 4.0 miles (9,110’) past a few clearings and aspen groves. While the forest is aesthetically mundane, this versatile habitat supports a range of wildlife.

The trail crosses a tributary at 4.75 miles; there’s a bridge for hikers but you may choose to hop the stream in favor of this aging plank.

Travel steadies to the Gourd Lake Trail split (6.0 miles : 9,583’), where you’ll begin a 2.7 mile segment of long-leg switchbacks up to the lake. Despite their uninviting depiction on a topo map, these switchbacks are relatively moderate over even terrain.

Lodgepole is gradually phased out from 7 – 7.5 miles on the transition to a healthier spruce-fir forest. Thinning timber and higher elevations expose ridgelines of the Divide, Cascade Creek corridor and Crater Lake cirque.

Conditions grow rugged leading to a scenic pond in the upper valley (8.0 miles : 10,762’). The trail skirts it to a second pond, which is actually just a long finger of Gourd Lake's outlet channel.

Here the trail loses clarity; some maps show it doubling back on itself and heading up the left side, but it's equally easy to follow the right side up to Gourd Lake (8.3 miles : 10,795’).

Steep granite walls frame much of the lake and limit exploration, however social trails around the open south shore connect natural jetties that provide unique vantages and fishing access. Trout are notably large in this deep and lightly fished lake.