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Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail

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StartEnd200 mN
Schematic preview drawn from the trail geometry. No basemap yet; do not use for navigation. Start = circle, end = square.
Length0.55 micomputed
Route typeUnknownunknown
SurfaceGroundfrom source
DifficultyMountain hikingfrom source
Est. time10 mincomputed
Elevation gain11 ftcomputed

Trail features

Dog-friendlyDogs on leashEffort: easyBikes allowedShort (under 2 mi)Unpaved

Hover or long-press a feature to see its basis. Effort is computed from length and climb and is not an official difficulty.

Plan your visit

Dogs on leashBikes allowedNo horsesNot wheelchair accessible

Access details come from OpenStreetMap tags and can be missing or out of date. Fees, permits and seasonal closures are not included here yet.

Parking, fees and permits

We don't have verified parking, fee or permit details for this trail, so they are unknown here. These rules change and are set by the land manager. Check the official pages:

Details

Length0.55 micomputed
Route typeUnknownunknown
SurfaceGroundfrom source
DifficultyMountain hiking (OSM sac_scale)from source
Elevation gain11 ftcomputed
Elevation loss55 ftcomputed
Highest point10,350 ftcomputed
Lowest point10,294 ftcomputed
Estimated durationabout 10 min one way (estimate, Naismith's rule)computed
Official verificationNot verified by an official sourceunknown

Elevation

10,294 ft10,322 ft10,350 ft00.55 mi
Elevation along the trail from start (left) to end (right) as drawn. Values are computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed. Walking the other way reverses the climbs and descents.

Length is measured from the route geometry in the source data, so it can differ from signed or official distances.

Nearby trails

Along the way

Water

  • Drinking water (mapped)41 ft from startNo fee mapped
    Unnamed OSM ↗

Mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. Not tested or guaranteed: springs can dry up and water must be treated. Carry enough water.

Trailhead and facilities

Parking and toilets shown are within about 0.25 mi of the trail start.

Points come from OpenStreetMap contributors and can be missing, moved or out of date. How we label data.

Weather at the trailhead

Sat54° / 34°Sunny0% precip
Sun54° / 34°Mostly Sunny0% precip
Mon52° / 34°Partly Sunny11% precip
Tue52° / 35°Mostly Sunny9% precip
Wed55° / 37°Mostly Sunny5% precip
Thu56° / 36°Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers36% precip
Fri51° / –Snow Showers Likely57% precip

Today: sunrise 7:14 AM, sunset 6:19 PM (computed from the trailhead location).

Forecast for the trailhead area from the U.S. National Weather Service, updated Oct 17, 12:46 AM. Mountain weather changes fast and can differ a lot by elevation: check the official forecast for your route before you go.

Recent conditions

Reports come from Arête members, not from land managers. They show when something was seen, not whether it is still true. Check official sources before you go.

No condition reports in the last 30 days. Conditions are unknown, not necessarily good.

Reviews

No reviews yet.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?

Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail in Roosevelt National Forest is 0.55 mi long, measured from its route geometry in OpenStreetMap data. Signed or official distances can differ.

How much elevation does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail gain?

Walking from the start to the end as drawn, it climbs about 11 ft and descends about 55 ft, between 10,294 ft and 10,350 ft. These are computed from the USGS 3DEP elevation model and can differ from other apps; the other direction swaps climbing and descending.

How hard is Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?

OpenStreetMap tags this trail "Mountain hiking" (sac_scale). That is a mapper's rating, not an official one.

How long does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail take?

About 10 min one way for a fit hiker, by Naismith's rule from the length and climb. It is an estimate: allow more for rest, photos, heat, altitude and weather.

Where does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail start?

The route starts near 40.0789, -105.5731 (Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder County). Use the Directions button to open it in your maps app.

Are dogs allowed on Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?

Dogs are tagged as allowed on a leash in OpenStreetMap. Rules can change by season and by land manager, so check posted signs and the official page.

Is there water, parking or a toilet at Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?

Mapped in OpenStreetMap near this trail: 1 water point, 5 parking areas, 5 toilets. Mapped water is not tested or guaranteed: carry your own. Fees and permits are not included here; check the official page.

Source

© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Overpass API extract: Boulder County, CO (hiking relations + named paths). Licence: ODbL 1.0. Data version osm-2026-10-16, imported 10/16/2026. View the source record

Trail data can be wrong or out of date, and Arête is not an emergency service. Check official sources, weather and closures before you go.

Directions