City: Boulder, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Description: The 4-mile round-trip hike to Lost Lake is especially nice in the fall with the changing aspen leaves. The trail is a gravelly road that climbs through aspen groves. When it sort of levels out for a bit, listen for the roar of water, take a short detour to the left (not marked), and look for a gorgeous series of cascades culminating in a thundering waterfall. Continue on the trail to a junction sign at a bridge. Don’t take the Devil’s Thumb Bypass Trail; instead, cross the bridge and continue up the left-hand side of the creek past another beautiful falls. The trail leads to Woodland Flats, a large, open meadow with fine views of Devil’s Thumb and the mountains. Don’t miss the sign at this point for Lost Lake to the left; it’s another 0.5 mile up to this pretty, wildflower-lined lake and the site of much early mining activity. Reach the Fourth of July trailhead via the right fork of CR 130.