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Carey and Island Lakes are located at the headwaters of the West Branch of the Laramie River. This trip provides a 6.5 mile backpack trip through lush forest of aspen, pine and spruce. There are several meadows, plenty of water, places to camp along the way, lots of wildflowers and tundra above timberline near the lakes. How to get there: Take I-25 north to Ft. Collins, exit on CO14. Follow CO14 and US 287 around the north side of Ft. Collins. You will pass Laporte, in a few more miles US 287 and COM will separate. Take COM west towards Cameron Pass. In about 45 miles Chambers Lake will appear on the north side of the highway. CR103 turns north and travels along the east side of Chambers Lake. In about six miles you will pass Tunnel Campground on the west side of the road. Drive another mile, the West Branch Trailhead parking lot will appear on your left. Park in the parking lot, be sure to read the wilderness rules and complete the sign-in sheet. The trail: Starting from the West Branch Trailhead hike south from the parking lot on CR103 for a short distance until it reaches the North Fork of the Laramie River. The West Branch Trail (FS960) turns west and follows the north side of the river on a service road pass a water diversion project. For the first mile the trail is flat and there is no elevation gain until it reaches the foothills. The second mile has some elevation gain with several switchbacks. At 2.4 miles the Camp Lake Trail (FS968) branches off to the right and heads north to Camp Lake. Continue on the West Branch Trail for another .6 mile where the Rawah Trail (FS961) branches off to the right heading for the Rawah Lakes. Campsites can be found near this trail intersection (designated as campsite 1). The West Branch Trail goes left, continue to follow it, the trail increases in steepness for about a mile until it levels off into a meadow at 4.2 miles. There are a number of campsites (designated as campsite 2) in this large meadow area with water from the West Branch of the Laramie River and a smaller tributary at 4.9 miles. The trail to Blue Lake, FS959, turns south at 5 miles, back country campsites (designated as campsite 3) are available just before the intersection with the Blue Lake Trail. For the next mile the grade increases and as you near 6 miles the trees begin to thin out, grassy areas and wildflowers begin to appear. Trees are only scattered as you climb above timberline. The trail again splits shortly after the 6.1 mile mark. Carey Lake is to the right and Island Lake to the left. Island Lake is another .4 mile located in a cirque next to the Continental Divide and is very picturesque; as the name implies it has an island in its center. Some back country campsites (designated as campsite 4) are available just north of Island Lake. Return on the same trail you entered. Total distance is 6.5 miles one-way using the West Branch Trail.
Created on: 2024-09-08 12:42:26
Last edited by: rhall290472 On: 2024-09-19 15:28:56