Sep 19, 2024
Perfect calm, blue sky late summer day couldn't be wasted, so packed up lunches and loaded recovery gear and we're off in another nearby adventure. Chinn's Lake trailhead's only 30-40min from our house off I-70's Fall River Rd exit 238.
The 4x4 trail's just under 4miles and starts pretty wide with some really nice homes tucked along the trail. Yeah, it's weird seeing multi-million $$ 'cabins' on a wheeling trail, but they're probably under an hour from Denver, so guess it's a do-able commute.
Overall FunTreks & OnX have a Moderate trail rating. 1st 1/2 mile is rocky, but easy.
It's steeper and much bigger rocks as we climb this narrow valley.
There are actually 4 lakes in this valley, 1 natural lake up high, and 3 lower lakes supported by 3 earth/rock dams. We'll visit 3 of these 4 lakes today.
The 4x4 trail ends at the 3rd lake and our objective was another ~2 miles and 700ft elevation hike to the higher natural lake.
Raleigh Chinn's dad Thomas was a good friend of George Washington. Raleigh, like thousands of others came west in search California gold, but after surviving indian attackes arriving in Denver seemed a miracle. Raleigh & his wife Theresa had 7 childred while he became a successful freight hauler, builder, boardinghouse operator, prospector, miner, etc in this area during 1870s - 1910s.
The Chinn's summer lake house cabin today needs a little work, but we can imagine the excitement that once filled the air with those 7 kiddos about!
We drive over the upper dam and begin our hike up a unmarked and mostly no-trail adventure.
Couple hours bushwhacking & rock scrambling to climb some 2 miles & 700ft, we were rewarded with this high grassy tundra and fine views of the 3 upper lakes.
These are the 2 upper dam lakes.
The natural Chinn's Lake is on the left.
The ridge above this upper tundra is part of the Continental Divide.
Glorious day - Great fun!
Cheers
The 4x4 trail's just under 4miles and starts pretty wide with some really nice homes tucked along the trail. Yeah, it's weird seeing multi-million $$ 'cabins' on a wheeling trail, but they're probably under an hour from Denver, so guess it's a do-able commute.
Overall FunTreks & OnX have a Moderate trail rating. 1st 1/2 mile is rocky, but easy.
It's steeper and much bigger rocks as we climb this narrow valley.
There are actually 4 lakes in this valley, 1 natural lake up high, and 3 lower lakes supported by 3 earth/rock dams. We'll visit 3 of these 4 lakes today.
The 4x4 trail ends at the 3rd lake and our objective was another ~2 miles and 700ft elevation hike to the higher natural lake.
Raleigh Chinn's dad Thomas was a good friend of George Washington. Raleigh, like thousands of others came west in search California gold, but after surviving indian attackes arriving in Denver seemed a miracle. Raleigh & his wife Theresa had 7 childred while he became a successful freight hauler, builder, boardinghouse operator, prospector, miner, etc in this area during 1870s - 1910s.
The Chinn's summer lake house cabin today needs a little work, but we can imagine the excitement that once filled the air with those 7 kiddos about!
We drive over the upper dam and begin our hike up a unmarked and mostly no-trail adventure.
Couple hours bushwhacking & rock scrambling to climb some 2 miles & 700ft, we were rewarded with this high grassy tundra and fine views of the 3 upper lakes.
These are the 2 upper dam lakes.
The natural Chinn's Lake is on the left.
The ridge above this upper tundra is part of the Continental Divide.
Glorious day - Great fun!
Cheers
Rlew2038, TommyCO