Lawn Lake

Description

Elevation: - Lawn Lake - 10,987'; Approximate maximum elevation 11,600'
Location - Northwest of Estes Park in Colorado in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Trip Report(s)

I have been up to Lawn Lake at least three times, and I think more. I've made a solo day hike trip, a day hike with Mike Slinkard and Jim Proffer, and at least one (and I think two) overnight backpacking trips with Mike.

Lawn Lake would be your "typical" pretty Colorado alpine lake surrounded by high peaks if it didn't have another distinguishing feature. In 1902 an earthen dam was built to enlarge the lake to make it a reservoir. Eighty years later, on July 15, 1982 (my birthday!) it broke. The following is from a USGS topographical map for Rocky Mountain National Park:

This dam failed on July 15, 1982, and within hours it released 674 acre-feet of water into the Roaring River drainage. The ensuing flood scoured a 5-mile channel in Pinedale glacial debris, and built a great alluvial fan where the waters disgorged onto the floor of Horseshoe Park. The force of this cataclysmic event piled glacial rubble up to 42 feet deep, and moved boulders weighing up to 452 tons.

As you walk up the six miles from the trailhead (approx. 8,600') near the alluvial fan to the lake, you pass ample evidence of the flood. Trees are down, and the main creek channel has been scraped down as much as 40'. It is quite impressive to see and think about. Once you reach the lake, the gap in the earthen dam is actually surprisingly small - perhaps 10' deep and 20' across. Quite amazing how much force water pouring through that breach had!

At Lawn Lake, Mummy Mountain (13,425') rises to the north, Hagues Peak (13,560') to the northwest, then there is a saddle comprising a high pass at 12,400', wrapping around to Fairchild Mountain (13,502') rising above Crystal Lake at the highest end of the valley. I have wanted to climb all of them, and haven't had the opportunity, as yet. A traverse starting at Mummy Mountain and wrapping around to Fairchild Mountain (descending then back to Lawn Lake) would be quite doable in a day. Photos follow.

Photos

The following were taken during a fall camping trip with Mike. Some are panoramas, so expand your browser or scroll to the right.

Alluvial fan

The alluvial fan from the flood, as seen looking across Horseshoe Park from Trail Ridge Road (photo taken during one of numerous sightseeing drives over Trail Ridge).
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Dam

The break in the dam.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Fairchild Mountain

Looking west across Lawn Lake at Fairchild Mountain (peak at mid-left), then the saddle in mid-photo, with Hagues Peak rising to the right.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Longs Peak

Looking south at Longs Peak (on the skyline in the middle right of the photo). Mt. Lady Washington is on the skyline immediately to its left after the little saddle. This photo was taken above Lawn Lake on the middle slopes of Mummy Mountain.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Lawn Lake

Lawn Lake as seen looking down valley from near Crystal Lake. The grassy areas between the water and the surrounding trees used to be part of the lake until the dam broke, cutting the lake's area by at least half.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Mike

Mike near Crystal Lake. My memory of this trip leads me to believe he wasn't feeling very well that day, as the easy hike up from Lawn Lake to Crystal Lake really got to him. Hence not his usual smiling visage!
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)


Jim

Me near Crystal Lake. The saddle is right above my head, with Fairchild Mountain climbing from there up to the left.
(Photo by Jim Lehmer)

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