Today I drove up toward Guanella Pass to join a Meetup Hiking Group at Abyss Lake Trail, also known as Scott Gomer Trail, to enjoy the Colorado fall colors which are peaking early this year due to the dry weather. I was already up in the area, and the group was coming from Denver, so I planned on meeting them at the trailhead at 8:45.
I ended up being fifteen minutes late, so with two cars in the parking area, I thought I missed them and jumped on the trail quickly. Starting up the path on this brisk morning, I met Karen, a lady from Boulder, who also planned on meeting the group from Denver. It turns out, we must have been ahead of them, so we hiked together.
Hiking Abyss Lake Trail
The Abyss Lake Trail, Number 602, winds 8 miles one-way through the Mount Evans Wilderness to the Abyss Lake, located high in the mountains between two fourteeners, Mt. Evans and Mt. Bierstadt. Rated difficult, the trail begins at an elevation of 9,620 feet and gains 3,030. The meetup group only planned a 7 mile hike, so I was curious to find the turn around point.
Karen and I followed the single-track trail which skirted the Scott Gomer Creek as it passed through multiple groves of golden aspen trees. The aspens lined both sides of the path which was also dotted with yellow leaves that had already fallen to the ground.
We crossed the creek three times before reaching a large meadow providing magnificent views of Mt. Bierstadt, granite cliffs, and a mountainside of multi-colored aspen groves. The valley, lined by beaver ponds on one side, was a perfect place to enjoy a quick snack before continuing our journey.
We had a choice to continue along the Abyss Lake Trail or to follow the Rosalie Trail, number 603 as the paths crossed. Instead of climbing Abyss Lake Trail up multiple switchbacks, we veered toward Guanella Pass along the Rosalie Trail until we reached another expansive open space. Since we had already hiked a few miles farther than planned, I bid farewell to Karen and retraced my tracks. Abyss Lake Trail is beautiful fall hike near Guanella Pass. It’s no wonder I hiked for miles farther and a couple hours longer than planned! ETB