Indian Peaks Wilderness, CO — Four Brothers Gear

Indian Peaks Wilderness - Devil’s Thumb Loop: September 2-3 2021

First, a note about this wilderness area which is about 1 1/2 hour drive from Denver and full of great options for a day or multi-day trip. Overnight permits are required for back country camping, adding some complexity to planning for multi-day treks that cross over the different zones, as you’ll need to plan well in advance, mapping out mileage options which provide access to water. During peak season, permits go quickly, so be sure to book them as soon as possible to ensure you get the route desired. The reservation system holds back 25% of the available permits for booking within 3 days of departure, so it is still possible to score your selection on short notice, though weekend slots fill quickly, so just be prepared to go with Plan B.

This route maps out to be 17.7 miles, totally doable in a one-day hike, though doing it as an overnight trek is certainly worthy as there are some excellent campsites available on a first come first served basis (provided of course that you have the requisite permit)!

We did the hike in two days, camping at Devil’s Thumb Lake, about 11 miles into the hike. Parking at Hessie Trailhead just outside of Nederland is limited, and we were lucky to get a spot - though starting on Thursday (off weekend) likely helped. If the parking area is full, shuttle service runs from Nederland.

Water access and your permit will control where you camp, and there are basically two options to choose from as follows:

Middle Boulder Zone: Located at the southern part of this loop, there are Some nice campsites are available at King Lake and Betty Lake, both about 5.5 miles from the trailhead going clockwise.
Jasper Lake Zone: Located at the northern part of this loop, you can find sites at both Jasper Lake and Devil’s Thumb Lake, approximately 4 and 12 miles respectively from the trailhead going counterclockwise.

LOGISTICS

How we did the trek: We started around 1:30 and since there was so much daylight left when we got to King Lake, decided to press on another few miles to set camp at Devil’s Thumb Lake, clocking around 9 miles on Day #1. The weather was sketchy the whole day - starting out in the rain. (and heat!) and when we got to King Lake, the sky was blue - hence our decision to make a go of it for Devil’s Thumb Lake. This was a calculated risk as we needed to cover approximately miles above tree line with no cover at all during the middle of the afternoon. The trail section is accurate named “High Lonesome Trail” for good reason. It’s high (around 12,000 feet) and, well…lonesome! Saw one other pair of hikers who were doing the circuit counterclockwise - and only a few others at the lake when we arrived - exhausted.

**Pausing at King Lake - approx. 5 miles from the trailhead**

As for campsites on this circuit, in order of most attractive to least, my view is King Lake vicinity, Devil’s Thumb, and a distant third being Jasper Lake. All have easy water access and multiple places to pitch a tent, though as for remoteness plus great site, Devil’s Thumb gets my vote.

Wildlife Highlights: If you’ve seen the animated Disney movie Lion King and recall the scene of the stampede in the valley, that is the equivalent of what we were treated to at Devil’s Thumb, when my so spotted in the distance (1/2 mile away) 3 elk. Wait, what!? Actually a closer look revealed a literal herd - well over 100 that were moving at first a slow pace down into the valley to eventually a streaming run down the valley and up an incline.