The Beaver Creek Trail scales the massive eastern shoulder of Mt Audubon (13,223’) to connect Coney Flats with the Brainard Lake Recreation Area in Colorado’s Indian Peaks Wilderness. This lengthy north-south artery transitions through 4 distinct eco-communities: the marshes of Coney Flats, upper montane forest, subalpine forest and alpine tundra. Such diversity attracts a range of wildlife including coyote, fox, bear, mountain lion, deer, elk, grouse, ptarmigan marmot, bighorn sheep and mountain goat.

Sawtooth Mountain from Coney Flats

An early morning moon lingers over the Brainard Lake Recreation Area

Large cairns mark an elusive path into the alpine tundra

Summer wildflowers in the fore of Longs Peak and Mt Meeker

Looking north towards the Wild Basin Area of Rocky Mountain National Park

Looking down at Mitchell Lake from the Beaver Creek Trail

Mountain weather changes quickly; hurry below treeline when storms approach

The trail splits 3.35 miles from Coney Flats and begins a steep, methodical climb through the open tundra towards Mt Audubon

Longs Peak emerges once more on the final approach to Mt Audubon

The Gore Range behind Pawnee, Navajo, Apache and Shoshoni peaks

Tread lightly in this delicate alpine environment

Mt Toll (center) among several distinguished peaks on the descent to Brainard Lake