Brainard Lake via Waldrop and Ski Trail is a 6.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Ward, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
This trail begins on Waldrop Trail #814 and takes the CMC Ski Trail #814.2 back. The Ski Trail is not an official trail and if you wish for a clearer path back, take Waldrop Trail or Brainard Lake Road back to the start. There is no fee to do this hike, as it starts outside of Brainard Lake Recreation Area. The gate is closed during the winter, so this is a popular snowshoeing route. Although dogs are allowed in this area during the summer, they are not allowed to do this loop during the winter. Please note that hikers have encountered moose on this trail.
January 17, 2021We got to the parking lot around 9am and it was only half full. The snow is packed down so snowshoes are fun to use but not really needed. Spikes work too. Beautiful scenery and the trail was not too busy. The trail is fairly flat with minimal elevation gain. High wind gusts in some area...ski goggles recommended! Parking was filling up by the time we were finished.
January 14, 2021Pretty hike not enough snow for snowshoes ... spikes would have been useful in a couple icy places but not necessary. Trail snow packed today!Very Windy...
January 2, 2021Great hike. Spikes would be good but can manage well wo them. Very windy at the lake today but otherwise a great hike
December 27, 2020OTook Waldrop out and back - it’s beautiful trail and provided protection from the wind. First 2ish miles from the trailhead were nice and packed down thanks to the skiers and snowshoers. The last 3/4ish mile was less packed down but I still made it just fine with just hiking boots. Spikes or snowshoes probably would have helped, but it was still fun!
December 25, 202012/25/2020: Left the car about 7:55am There were about 20 cars in the lot. Didn't see anyone till we got to the lake. It's underwhelming but I loved the actual hike. Do not hike the ski trail.. it is not allowed (the return trail of you go country clockwise). Therefore we went back to the lake, backtracked and took a slightly different way back to the car that added some mileage. Lots of dogs so of course dog shit bags here and there. Got back to the car about 12:20pm. Oh also we didn't need our spikes; poles were enough. It was well packed snow most of the way with no ice except for a minor stream crossing.
December 17, 2020No need for snow shoes as the trails were packed snow. We used micro spikes, you really need them on the trails. We only walked on the road for a short distance after leaving the snow shoe trail to get to the Waldrop trail.
December 6, 2020November 28, 2020Out and back along the road makes for a perfect, easy winter hike. Gorgeous alpine forests and Mountain View’s, not too many people when we arrived at 10am on a Saturday but the parking lot was starting to fill up when we left around 1. The road is a few inches of packed snow almost the whole way so some decent boots is definitely recommended.
October 16, 2020Park in the lot just before the park entrance and take the trail to the left of the little cabin. The Waldrop trail to the lake was so nice with the snow. We saw hardly any people until we got to the lake. DO NOT take the Ski Trail back to complete the loop unless it’s good weather or you’re okay with potentially getting lost - it was snowy and very puddly and poorly marked. Also, at the end of the ski trail you run into a mishmash of snow shoe trails that crisscross randomly, and we got completely turned around and accidentally went back toward the lake on a separate snow shoe trail. The only way we managed to figure out our location was when I got data and was able to see where the road was, and we trekked off trail to get there and head back to our car. The trail was very pretty and we still enjoyed it a lot, but beware if there’s a snowstorm because it could be a bad situation.
October 14, 2020Trail needs a lot of maintenance, I actually lost the trail twice. Lots of it on the way back is under some water. It felt like trekking through Shrek’s swamp. It’s a pretty trail but I wouldn’t suggest doing it right now. Very gentle incline. Definitely on the easy side of moderate.
October 6, 2020Beautiful! Brainard Lake is gorgeous, especially during sunset. Pretty easy hike, lots of places to stop and take pictures!
October 4, 2020Nice day of hiking with pretty views. The ski trail is muddy in spots and in need of maintenance. We saw two moose on the ski trail.
October 3, 2020September 27, 2020September 26, 2020September 25, 2020did waldrop, was pretty easy, slightly strenuous, easy, slightly strenuous, easy...got to Brainard Lake beautiful, short walk on the road back on trail and it got a little stressful....got off trail a couple times, thankyou alltrail for getting me back, very wet marshy, scratches up legs a bit. passed not 1 person so it was nice and peaceful.
September 14, 2020beautiful shaded hike through the trees
September 11, 20209/11/20 It's a beautiful rocky trail I've never seen in the summer! However, today it was a winter hike with some sun and blue sky, cold wind and patches of snow on the trail. Thankfully, we were protected from the wind by the trees. Enjoyed all the creeks and foot bridges in the woods up to Brainard Lake! Typical winter wind gusts at the lake! It'll be nice again next week!
September 6, 2020August 29, 2020August 27, 2020My friends and I are contemplating going to Brainard over Labor Day weekend. I’m seeing some comments here about the trails being marshy. Anyway to know if that is still an issue?
August 27, 2020August 16, 2020To whoever found my phone and left it at the trailhead- THANK YOU, you’re an angel!! This hike was beautiful, the lake was beautiful! A bit rocky in places but really nice
August 15, 2020Waldrop trail was nice and the lake was beautiful, but don't recommend taking the ski trail on the way back. The ski trail is marked but is a little hard to follow, and some areas were very muddy/marshy
