Lost Man Trail Loop Hike

Round trip distance: 8.5 miles
Hiking time: 7 hours
High point: 12,800 feet
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
Best hiking time: Late July and August
Map: USGS 7.5 minute series Mt. Champion, Thimble Rock
Trails Illustrated Map #127 Aspen, Independence Pass
For more information: Aspen Ranger District, 806 W. Hallam, Aspen, CO, 81611, Phone: 970-925-3445.
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies at Hallam Lake conducts guided hikes with naturalists on trails such as Lost Man Trail. 100 Puppy Smith St., Aspen, CO 81611. Phone: (970) 925-5756. aces@aspennature.org

Getting there: Directions from Aspen: Drive 14 miles east on Colorado Highway 82 toward Independence Pass to the parking lot directly across from Lost Man Campground. Leave one car here if doing a shuttle. Continue in the other vehicle 4 miles more (total 18 miles) to the last switchback before the top of Independence Pass. Park on the left (north) side of the road.
The Lost Man Campground is situated directly across the highway from Lost Man Trailhead. The campsites are within a lodgepole pine forest at 10,500 feet. Drinking water and toilets are available at the campground. The Lost Man Trail trailhead is on the left (north) side of the highway.
This hike offers you and your canine companion three options, depending on your and your dog’s hiking abilities, stamina, available time and weather. The first option is a short hike to Linkins Lake, situated above timberline and just below the summit of Independence Pass. If you are game after the lake hike you can retrace your steps a short distance and continue on into the glacially-formed basins that spawn the Roaring Fork River and its eastern tributary, Lost Man Creek. The Lost Man Trail to Independence Lake in the Roaring Fork drainage takes you to another gorgeous alpine lake, one offering more solitude than at the close-to the-road lake.
If the weather and your and your dog’s stamina hold, you may want to consider option three, continue climbing to the saddle above Independence Lake, the highest point on this trail, for superb views of the Continental Divide and the Roaring Fork River valley as the mountain stream descends with enormous gusto from the drainage to create a river in Aspen and beyond.
From here it is downhill for the rest of the hike, first reaching Lost Man Lake and continuing to the Lost Man Reservoir and Lost Man Campground to complete the loop. However, this is an incomplete loop since the campground is 4 miles lower than the Linkins Lake trailhead. So if you are going to do the loop, some strategic planning is needed since you do not want to — and should not — hike 4 miles up the very narrow, very busy, very curvy and very steep road to Independence Pass.
Although the hike can be done starting from either the campground or the lake, local wisdom says the loop should be commenced at Linkins Lake. There are two reasons for this. The first is that you will be starting above timberline early in the day so the chance of being caught in a sudden thunderstorm is less probable than if you were climbing up to the lake and above timberline late in the afternoon.
The second, perhaps more compelling, reason is that starting at the upper trailhead gets the climbing part of the hike out of the way more quickly. Once you summited the saddle above Independence Lake at 2.5 mile from the trailhead, the rest of the hike is downhill.
Finally, be aware that you are hiking at a very lofty altitude, so use plenty of sunscreen, take along plenty of water and layer your clothing. Watch your dog for signs of fatigue, which may be a symptom of high altitude hiking. Make certain he is very well hydrated and stop if he starts lagging behind or loses his customary pep.
The final word of advice is to hike this trail in August when the snow is gone. Snow tends to linger on the trail into July and sections of the trail may be very muddy early in the season, if not snow covered. Look for marsh marigolds in the wetter, boggier places. This trail is famous for this delicate white flower with a brilliant yellow center. Marsh marigolds crave wet, frigid soil.
Since this hike is in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness, leash laws apply.

You will have one tired but happy dog after doing this loop hike. Most of the hike is on soft tundra and the sources to water are truly innumerable, since you will be hiking not only past three lakes but also along two creek drainages.
Begin hiking from the Linkins Lake trailhead located on the left (north) side of the highway. Both the Linkins Lake Trail and the Lost Man Trail ascend together a short distance and cross a stream, one of numerous such stream crossings along the way. At the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness sign, the Lost Man Trail continues right (north), while the Linkins Lake Trail bends left (west) to begin a steep climb to the shelf on which the lake rests. The trail levels off as it crosses the tundra to the lake. The distance to the lake is 0.5 mile one way.
If you continue on the Lost Man Trail, you will hike along the Roaring Fork River for 0.3 mile before crossing to the other side. This starts the climb upward as the trail rises to a plateau above the bowl. At about 2 miles from the trailhead, the trail crosses the river once again over rocky terrain as you head for Independences Lake at 12,490 feet and 2.1 miles from the trailhead.
By now your canine companion will have gotten wet and most likely muddy f you are hiking early in the season. Make certain that the high pitch whistle of the fat marmot tha t resides among the boulder on the tundra, does not send your dog off the trail. Conserve his and your strength.
Independence Lake is a great place for a break. The Continental Divide is the huge rockwall to your right (east). The mountain across to the wet is Geissler Mountain with east and west summits, 13,200 and 13,301 feet respectively.
From the lake, follow the trail along the shoreline and climb steeply to the saddle between the Roaring Fork and Lost Man Creek drainages. This is Lost Man Pass, elevation 12,800 feet, the high point of the loop. The trail leading to the pass snakes through a talus field. Follow the cairns and make sure your dog stays on the trail for his safety.
Lost Man Lake is some 400 feet below, surrounded by impressive granite boulders. As you drop to the lake, marmots and pika, small rodent-like animals that announce their presence with sharp yelps, are plentiful, so keep your dog near you.
Once you drop to the lake, you may want to take another breather and give your dog a chance to enjoy the water.
Next, pass Lost Man Lake along its right (east) shore and continue on the trail as it swings west in a big curve to cross the outlet from the lake and descends farther into the Lost Man Creek drainage. Stay on the Lost Man Trial. Don’t be tempted by the faint trail going off to the left (south). The Forest Service does not maintain it and it climbs the saddle between the two peaks of Geissler Mountain before reaching the highway. The climb is extremely steep.
Continue on the Lost Man Trail to a T-junction, which is signed. Stay to the left. The right arm of the T is a trail to South Fork Pass. Stay on the Lost Man Trail as it continues its descent to timberline and Lost Man Creek. Hike on the west side of Lost Man Creek past waterfalls and stepped cascades. Continue downhill into a large meadow. Lost Man Reservoir lies at the far end. This is the last chance for your dog to swim and engage in a game of “retrieve.”
Stay on the trail along the west shore of the reservoir. At this point you are a mere 0.5-mile from the end of the hike. Stay straight ahead when you come to the Midway Pass Trail spur. Cross a wooden bridge.
The trail ends to the right of the Forest Service bulletin board.