Tuesday Jul 07, 2009 at 22:27
Backpacking to the Macey Lakes
Upper Macey Lake
Now what does an Englishman in the USA need more than anything else on July 4th weekend in Colorado? Yes, some solitude and peace and quiet, well away from all that overblown, misplaced celebration ;-)
So, Alice and I set off to the voluptuously named Sangre de Cristo Wilderness in south central Colorado on a backpacking trip to the Macey Lakes. The Sangres are amongst the most spectacular mountains in the Rockies – in simple terms, they look like mountains the way a child would draw them: pointy, steep and jagged.
The trailhead (Horn Creek) is easily accessed out of Westcliffe. Due to private land holdings however, you need to hike three and bit miles south on the Rainbow trail (which skirts the foothills on the east side of the Sangres) before turning right up the Macey Lakes trail.
In total the trek is 7 miles and around 2,400 feet of elevation gain up to 11,200’ at Lower Macey Lake. There are in fact three lakes in the drainage, but only two names: Lower Macey Lake and Upper Macey Lake. Which of the upper lakes anyone intends by upper remains unclear to me. Here, I mean the highest of the three which lies some 400’ feet higher to the west of the lower lake.
Unnamed 13,200’ peak
We hiked to Upper Macey lake for sunrise knowing that the sun would pour in from the north west at this time of year. The upper lake is simply spectacular with extensive views to a cirque to the south and photogenic unnamed 13,200’ peak.
Although we didn’t see it, there was definitely a bear in close vicinity around the upper lake: we found unmistakable fresh tracks on the hike back down (they weren’t there on the way up), plus other ‘evidence’.
Lower Macey Lake
Lower Macey Lake, just below treeline, looks very lush at this time of year, but doesn’t catch any good direct sunlight during either golden hour. Nonetheless, as in the shot above, there are some beautiful views to be seen.
Yellow arnica
Finally, at lower elevations on the trail, the wildflowers were in excellent form, with plenty of columbine, indian paintbrush, arnica and some lupine to be found.
During three days up at the lake, we encountered only five other people. I suspect the longer hike in puts as many people off Macey lakes as the 4WD road to South Colony Lakes attracts, so if you’re looking for your ‘own’ piece of wilderness, this seems like a good spot.
The trails, while a little muddy in places, were clear of snow (other than one small bank on the way to the upper lake) and the mosquitos were relatively polite.
A beautiful place, well worth visiting.
Posted in Locations
Stephen · Tuesday, July 07, 2009, 22:27 · Permalink
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19:50 8 Jul 2009