Lonesome Lake (11,571') is located 5.2 miles from Homestake Reservoir in the Holy Cross Wilderness. It lies just above treeline in a scenic basin below the Continental Divide. The Lonesome Lake Trail follows East Fork Homestake Creek through large meadows rife with wildflowers and signs of wildlife. Visitors will enjoy great camping and lighter crowds at Lonesome Lake.

The Lonesome Lake Trail loses clarity through high alpine meadows, but navigation to the lake is fairly intuitive

The trail gains only 1550' on the 5.2 mile hike, with only a few short sections along the way

Paintbrush roots (genus Castilleja) have specialized parts called haustoria, which attach to the roots of other plants and draw away nutrients

Lonesome Lake is located just west of a low saddle on the Continental Divide, a relatively moderate climb with great views of Timberline Lake on the other side

Asters belong to one of the largest taxonomic groups of vascular plants with over 20,000 species

Since fires are not permitted within .25 miles of treeline, backpackers will find great options just below the 4.5 mile-meadow

Thick mats of alpine grasses surround the lake, such as Alpine Blue Grass, Skyline Blue Grass, Spike Trisetum, Tufted Hair Grass, Spreading Wheatgrass, Kobresia and Pyrennian Sedge

Long spurs between the sepals of Columbine contain nectar, which attract butterflies and long tongued bees

About 97 percent of Homestake Reservoir's water arrives May - July

Elephants Head, a member of the figwort family (which also includes foxglove and snapdragons), is prolific through damp, sunny meadows along the trail

Lonesome Lake forms the headwaters of East Fork Homestake Creek, a major tributary to the Homestake Reservoir

Bistort is in the Buckwheat family; it's sometimes jokingly referred to as 'miner's socks' for its pungent smell

Monkshood is similar in appearance to Larkspur, but with a distinct hood or helmet-like flower

The Lonesome Lake Trail passes through three meadows before scaling a steep wall through treeline to the lake basin