Mt Audubon - 7.9 Miles Round-Trip

Mt Audubon is located 3.95 miles from Mitchell Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. It's the 6th tallest peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and highest with a maintained trail up to the summit. Visitors will enjoy miles of open tundra with big views across the Indian Peaks and Rocky Mountain National Park.

65% of this trail runs above treeline. Anticipate variable weather conditions, and get an early start to avoid afternoon thunderstorms:

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

The trail begins on a mild grade that banks sharply left at .25 miles (an important mark when snow covered) up to a break in the forest against the steep south flank of Mt Audubon (.72 miles : 10,856').

The trail turns right on steep switchbacks with expanding views of Mitchell Lake, Little Pawnee Peak (12,466') and Mt Toll (12,979'). Tall spruce give way to krummholz, willow, forbs and sedges on the rapid transition through treeline (1.4 miles : 11,238').

Anticipate rocky conditions much of the way, and lingering snow through mid-summer. The next two miles lead through steep, open tundra on a rather direct, cairn-marked route to the summit.

The trail bears left at the Beaver Creek Trail split (1.7 miles : 11,375') with a good look at Longs Peak (14,259') and Mt Meeker (13,911') to the north.

Travel briefly moderates across a wide flat (2.05 miles : 11,650') with partial views of Mt Toll, Navajo Peak, Apache Peak, Shoshoni Peak, and Pawnee Peak. It pushes through a few steep switchbacks (2.5 - 2.75 miles : 11,977' - 12,144') to a saddle with social routes branching off to two unnamed peaks to the north.

These peaks (12,706' and 12,114') are good x-country alternatives to the busy Audubon summit, offering solitude and views across Coney Flats and Rocky Mountain's Wild Basin Area.

The main trail curls north of the summit and levels on a saddle directly beneath it (3.5 miles : 12,700'), positioning you for the final .45 mile - 523' climb through a rugged talus field. A large cairn and rock barrier span the trail, a signal for you to turn left into the talus.

It's possible to overshoot this demarcation, but you'll quickly find yourself staring down a perilous drop to Upper Coney Lake (10,940').

Identify cairns before heading into the talus. The path is vague at best - even with cairns' guidance - and it's likely you'll discover several alternative routes along the way.

Proceed cautiously and follow the most direct path to the summit (3.95 miles : 13,223'). Enjoy wide ranging panoramas, an up-close look at neighboring Paiute Peak (13,088') and 8 rock wind shelters on Mt Audubon.