Visiting Brainard Lake From Boulder

Rushing streams, glittering mountain lakes, shimmering aspen and pine trees, and saw-toothed mountain ridges…Brainard Lake Recreation Area is right out of a Colorado postcard. It’s the gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and it’s less than an hour from Boulder, making it a very popular area for hiking, fishing, paddling and picnicking — which is why the area requires a reservation to visit. 

It takes some planning and a bit of luck, but the Brainard Lake Recreation Area reservation system helps prevent overuse and makes it an enjoyable experience that’s not too crowded. Here’s what you need to know.

Brainard Lake Picnic Site & Trailhead Reservations

Brainard Lake Picnic Site and Trailhead is the main trailhead for the recreation area. Even though it's only an hour from Boulder, it's located high in the mountains and does not open until mid-June each year due to snowpack. You must have a parking reservation to visit, available on recreation.gov. The reservation system opens on May 31 at 8am mountain time and reservations are continually released on a 15-day rolling window. 

Arrive on the entry date, within your entry time window, to the Welcome Station, then park in the parking lot indicated on your reservation. Then enjoy this spectacular wilderness!

Day Use Parking

Brainard Lake Picnic Site/Trailhead

1-Day Personal Vehicle: $16.00
1-Day Motorcycle: $9.00
1-Day Bus: $61.00
1-Day Multi-Passenger Van: $38.00
Reservation Fee: $2.00 per ticket, nonrefundable
Late Cancellation Fee: No refunds on day of tour

Only one day-use parking reservation is required for the vehicle and all occupants.

Cancelations

Recreation.gov tells us that you may cancel your reservation up to the day before your reservation, minus the $2 reservation fee. 

Note: Several improvement projects to roads and trails began in early July 2025 and may cause delays or disruptions. Learn more.  

Additional Trailheads & Picnic Area Reservations

Mitchell Lake, Long Lake and Niwot Picnic Area

Within the Brainard Lake Recreation Area are three other popular day-use areas for hiking, picnicking and parking that require reservations: Mitchell Lake Trailhead, Long Lake Trailhead and Niwot Picnic Area. These do not open until early July and reservations must be made on recreation.gov. You can also access these areas on foot from the Brainard Lake Picnic Site/Trailhead by taking connecting trails.

Hiking Trails at Brainard Lake

Brainard Lake

Give yourself some time to take in this jaw-dropping, glacially carved valley, framed by jagged peaks and with a crystal-clear reservoir in the foreground. A wide trail runs along the north side of the lake, making for the easiest way to enjoy the lake views. 

Long Lake

A relatively short, moderately easy trail through fragrant pine forest and alpine meadows that skirts the shores of a serene subalpine lake, offering framed views of the rugged Indian Peaks, occasional moose sightings and footbridges crossing South St. Vrain Creek.

Isabelle Glacier

A moderately challenging round-trip hike from Long Lake Trailhead that climbs through fragrant pine and wildflower meadows past Lake Isabelle before steeply ascending talus slopes to remnants of the Isabelle Glacier.

Mitchell/Blue Lakes

A popular and fairly easy hike through fragrant subalpine woods — with a bridge crossing over Mitchell Creek — leading to a serene alpine lake framed by Mount Audubon and often frequented by wildlife like moose and marmots.

There are many more trails in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Your best resource for details is going to be Alltrails.

Camping

For those looking to camp in this beautiful area, there are a couple of options.

Pawnee Campground

This peaceful, piney campground is just a short walk from Brainard Lake. It fills up almost instantly and it can be difficult to get reservations, which are required via recreation.gov. Visitors with a Pawnee Campground reservation do not need to purchase a timed ticket to enter, but will need to show proof of their campground reservation.

Backpacking

An Indian Peaks Wilderness Overnight Permit is required for overnight camping in the Indian Peaks Wilderness’ backcountry zones. A separate overnight parking reservation is also required. This is rugged, high-country backpacking that requires careful planning and preparation.

Paddling & Fishing

Brainard Lake is open to non-motorized boating and fishing. Bring your own stand-up paddleboard or kayak to Brainard Lake, put in and enjoy a sensation like that of drifting around the top of the world. For those who love to fish, Brainard Lake is home to cutthroat, rainbow or brook trout, but first you'll need a Colorado fishing license. Parking reservations required for all visits; see above.

Snowshoeing in Winter

The Brainard Lake Gateway Trailhead is located just before the entrance into Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The site is an access portal that allows for year-round access to Brainard Lake Recreation Area and Indian Peaks Wilderness trail systems. The trailhead features a large parking area, warming hut, restrooms, self-service fee station and Wi-Fi service. Frequent maintenance ensures these features are available year-round. Check the current weather forecast before visiting. Find a winter trail map on the Forest Service website (scroll down to Winter Season Map).

What to Bring

Brainard Lake sits at 10,500 feet above sea level. Snowdrifts are common even through July, so come prepared with weatherproof footwear. Weather is much cooler at altitude and can change quickly, so bring extra layers and a rain jacket. 

• Rain jacket
• Warm layers
• Food and water (plenty of water)
• Waterproof boots or shoes with good traction
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Flashlight
• First aid kit

Alternative Wilderness Escapes

If you couldn’t secure a reservation to Brainard Lake, consider one of these alternatives:

• Hessie Trailhead (served by a shuttle bus to relieve parking congestion)
• Golden Gate Canyon State Park
• Caribou Ranch
• Mud Lake

Frequently Asked Questions