Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area

Roosevelt National Forest · 7.06 mi out and back · about 3 hr 5 min

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Route view:
Distance7.06 micomputed
Elevation gain1,541 ftcomputed
Elevation loss1,541 ftcomputed
Est. time3 hr 5 minNaismith's rulecomputed
DifficultyNot ratedno source has rated itunknown
Highest
11,888 ft
Lowest
10,373 ft
Route type
One way or out and back
Surface
Not mapped
Offline
Start500 mN
Schematic preview drawn from the trail geometry. No basemap yet; do not use for navigation. Start = circle.

Overview

Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area is mapped as a trail of 7.06 mi in Roosevelt National Forest. It is not a loop: you walk it one way or out and back.

It runs between 10,373 ft and 11,888 ft above sea level, a difference of 1,514 ft.

Estimates

  • Computed effort band: hard (from length and climb; not an official difficulty).
  • Estimated time 3 hr 5 min one way by Naismith's rule, which assumes steady walking and adds time for climbing. Real time varies.

Before you rely on this

  • No water source is mapped for this trail. That may only mean nobody has mapped one, so carry your own water.
  • Check the land manager for closures, seasonal rules and permits before you go; none of that is verified here.
Hard effort

Elevation

10,373 ft11,130 ft11,887 ft07.05 mi

Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys on the chart to read a point; it is shown on the map too.

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. Shaded bands are sections steeper than about 12% (4 climbing in red, 5 descending in blue).
Steep sections (9)
  • 1.53 mi to 1.60 mi: about 22.9% uphill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 1.78 mi to 1.84 mi: about 17.6% uphill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 2.58 mi to 2.71 mi: about 13.2% uphill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 3.22 mi to 3.48 mi: about 30.8% uphill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 3.60 mi to 3.80 mi: about 36.6% downhill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 4.38 mi to 4.44 mi: about 14.7% downhill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 4.51 mi to 4.57 mi: about 12.2% downhill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 5.18 mi to 5.24 mi: about 16.7% downhill (from the elevation model, so rough)
  • 5.42 mi to 5.55 mi: about 14.8% downhill (from the elevation model, so rough)

Before you go

Parking
1 parking area mapped near the start (nearest about 0.24 mi away). Fees and limits are not included. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
Trailhead and directions
Start at 40.07995, -105.57778. Directions to the start ↗
Permits and fees
We have no verified permit or fee details. Official pages: Roosevelt National Forest ↗, Boulder County ↗ (we have not recorded when these were last checked). not verified
Dogs
No dog rule is tagged. not verified
Water
No water is mapped. Carry your own. not verified
Toilets and facilities
None mapped. not verified
Accessibility, bikes and horses
No access details are tagged. not verified
Seasonal rules, closures and hazards
Not verified here. Check the land manager (Roosevelt National Forest ↗) and read the hiker condition reports below. No report does not mean the trail is open or safe. not verified

Weather at the trailhead

Sun53° / 35°Mostly Sunny0% precip
Mon49° / 35°Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers19% precip
Tue51° / 37°Mostly Sunny12% precip
Wed53° / 39°Mostly Sunny2% precip
Thu57° / 40°Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers46% precip
Fri54° / 33°Rain Showers Likely60% precip
Sat43° / –Chance Snow Showers45% precip

Today: sunrise 7:15 AM, sunset 6:18 PM (computed from the trailhead location).

Forecast for the trailhead area from the U.S. National Weather Service, updated Oct 18, 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, so there is no rating to show. We never invent ratings. Sign in to be the first to review this trail.

Photos and places from hikers

Added by community members and checked by our team before they appear. Photos have their location data removed. These are not official information.

No approved photos or places yet.

Along the way

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.

Nearby trails

Arête-built route from mapped trails

Assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments. Not an official or recommended route.

  1. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.10 mi (part of the mapped trail)
  2. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.10 mi (part of the mapped trail)
  3. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.22 mi (part of the mapped trail)
  4. Mitchell Lake Trail · 0.44 mi
  5. Mitchell Lake Trail · 0.56 mi
  6. Mitchell Lake Trail · 1.38 mi
  7. Little Blue Lake Route · 0.71 mi
  8. Little Blue Lake Route · 0.71 mi · walked back
  9. Mitchell Lake Trail · 1.38 mi · walked back
  10. Mitchell Lake Trail · 0.56 mi · walked back
  11. Mitchell Lake Trail · 0.44 mi · walked back
  12. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.22 mi (part of the mapped trail) · walked back
  13. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.10 mi (part of the mapped trail) · walked back
  14. Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail · 0.10 mi (part of the mapped trail) · walked back

Starts at a derived trailhead (1 mapped trail start within 150 m), 384 m from mapped parking (Niwot Picnic Area); the route starts at the nearest mapped trail junction, 0 m from that point. Built by Arête from the graph of mapped trail segments (OpenStreetMap). Segments join where their ends are within 12 m of each other or one ends on another's line (a T-junction). A loop returns to its start without repeating a trail section; an out-and-back goes to a mapped trail end and returns the same way, so its length counts both directions. Names come only from the mapped trails it uses. Length is measured on the joined line; elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP. Not an official or recommended route.

Data, sources and how the numbers are made
Length7.06 micomputed
Route typeOut and backcomputed
SurfaceUnknownunknown
DifficultyUnknownunknown
Elevation gain (as drawn)1,541 ftcomputed
Elevation loss (as drawn)1,541 ftcomputed
Estimated durationabout 3 hr 5 min one way as drawn (Naismith's rule)computed
Official verificationNot verified by an official sourceunknown

Length is measured from the route geometry in the source data, so it can differ from signed or official distances. Gain and loss describe the direction the line is drawn; the route view above shows the other direction and out and back. Elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed.

© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Route assembled by Arête from mapped trail segments.. Arête-built routes from mapped trails. Licence: ODbL 1.0 (derived from OpenStreetMap).

Frequently asked questions

How long is Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area?

Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area in Roosevelt National Forest is 7.06 mi long, measured from its route geometry in OpenStreetMap data. Signed or official distances can differ.

How much elevation does Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area gain?

Walking from the start to the end as drawn, it climbs about 1,541 ft and descends about 1,541 ft, between 10,373 ft and 11,888 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 Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area?

Difficulty is unknown: no source we use rates this trail, and we don't guess. Use the length and elevation gain to judge it for yourself.

How long does Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area take?

About 3 hr 5 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 Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area start?

The route starts near 40.0800, -105.5778 (Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder County). Use the Directions button to open it in your maps app.

Are dogs allowed on Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area?

Not tagged in OpenStreetMap, so it is unknown. Check posted signs and the land manager's website.

Is there water, parking or a toilet at Mitchell Lake Trailhead Connector Trail + Mitchell Lake Trail + Little Blue Lake Route out and back from Niwot Picnic Area?

Mapped in OpenStreetMap near this trail: 0 water points, 1 parking area, 0 toilets. Mapped water is not tested or guaranteed: carry your own. Fees and permits are not included here; check the official page.

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