Twin Lakes Dam Now Open

imported
#1

Today, I received the Fall 2009 edition of the CTF’s “Treadlines” and was pleased to read that the Twin Lakes dam has now been reopened to hikers.

Paraphrasing from the article on page 11:

In October, BLM announced it was reopening the CT across the Twin Lakes dam near Leadville in segment 11. This re-establishes the top of the dam as the official CT route. “As soon as our volunteers are able, we’ll eliminate the signs on the temporary route and re-establish the dam as the Trail.”

The Mount Ebert Pump Station, as well as the trail across the dam, was closed to the public “in the interest of national security” amid the paranoia immediately after 9/11.

Both the CTF and the CDTA are to be thanked for their tireless efforts over the years to get this section of shared trail re-established.

No mention was made in the article regarding the status of the pump station, which used to be a pleasant rest stop for hikers.

Wandering Bob

#2

The Pump station is still closed. There also is new trail from the underpass on highway CO-82 to the southern Mt. Elbert trailhead. The roadwalk from the campground has been eliminated. The changes, including the dam, will be described in a new edition of The Colorado Trail Mapbook, and a new Continental Divide Trail Mapbook for Colorado which we are frantically working on. Both of these publications should be available this spring.

bearcreek

#3

Hopefully, these new pages will be offerrred separately as up-dates to those of us who have already purchased the 2009 CT map book. I really don’t feel like spending another $45.

I really didn’t like having to buy a second, revised copy of the CT Guidebook after the two re-routes were added ealier this year.

wandering bob

#4

man we walked right through there & did not notice… you need a book to tell you where to step ??? open your eyes man !! or you’ll ‘WANDER’ off a cliff !!!

r u kidding

#5

Bob - These changes are not very difficult and I wouldn’t buy anything new.

When you cross the stream and hit the Parking area for Mt Elbert at mile 4.8 look to the right and you will see a marker and the new trail. (SOBO) Once you are on it, it is easy enough to follow. The dam crossing is obvious. The CDT and CT are the same here, so follow signage for either trail.

bearcreek

#6

I emailed the CTA about the re-route. Here’s part of their reply:

“We’ll have the new route over the Twin Lakes dam published in our Map Book, but not the Guidebook or Databook. We’ll be adding it to our website, although I’m told that the timing on that is still up in the air. Directions are pretty simple, as the route goes straight over the dam as opposed to meandering around it. Volunteers have already been out roughly re-marking the new route, and a crew this summer will be out there completing the task. The route doesn’t change the accessibility to Twin Lakes for resupply. Although the CT hasn’t/doesn’t take hikers thru Twin Lakes, it’s a short ~1 mile trip to get there. Twin Lakes is a super small town, but does offer enough for a basic resupply.”

Wandering Bob

#7

The dam is easy enough but the trail has also been rerouted between the southern Mt Elbert Trailhead all the way to the underpass to get it off of the road - a distance of 2-1/2 miles. When you reach the road and Mt. Elbert parking area (Mile 4.8)look to the right for the trail. I think there is a marker there at the edge of the road but if there are cars there you might miss it if you aren’t looking. Follow good trail south, staying on the west side of the valley and creek. At mile 5.9 there is a split in the trail and you go left on a sharp switchback to a new bridge by a small waterfall. The trail basically traverse the sidehill east from there and passes just below the campground. A large switchback to the left has been built between the campground and the underpass. (Mile 7.2) It’s a really nice hike compared to the road.

bearcreek

#8

I should have mentioned - this change in my previous post is described in the 7th edition revised guidebook but not very clearly. We didn’t get it mapped until last summer.

bearcreek