MOHAWK LAKES
June 30, 2007
By Tim Briese
The Mohawk Lakes lie in a high valley just southwest of Breckenridge. I had visited this beautiful place a few years before on my way to climb Crystal Peak, but that was in October when the landscape was partly covered by snow, so I looked forward to returning with my wife Teresa to visit it again when it was clothed in the lush greenery of summer.
We drove up the Spruce Creek Road, which is located off Highway 9 about three miles south of Breckenridge, and followed it a few miles to a point where it came to a broad meadow that held Spruce Creek. Just beyond was a parking area along the left side of the road. We parked here and began the hike. After walking uphill a short distance to the end of the road, we reached the Mohawk Lakes Trail and followed it westward through heavy timber beside Spruce Creek. In about a half mile we passed Mayflower Lakes and begin a steep climb through open rocky terrain on switchbacks up a 500 foot headwall. Part way up we came to impressive Continental Falls, and sat down for a while to admire its thundering torrent.
At the top of the headwall the trail leveled out and almost immediately we found ourselves on the shore of beautiful Lower Mohawk Lake. Numerous other hikers were strolling about in the open woods and among the scenic rock outcroppings around the lake. Some were fishing, some eating lunch, and some were just gazing about at the surrounding grandeur. This hike is a very popular one, and justifiably so.
We continued on the trail as it wound around more scenic rocky areas and climbed to the southwest a few hundred feet to Upper Mohawk Lake. This sparkling gem lies at the base of a high ridge that lies just to the south. At this point the trail became somewhat more faint, but we continued to follow it up into the broad, scenic valley beyond. There were some banks of snow still remaining in places, but mostly we were treated to lush grassy meadows and stands of vibrant wildflowers. The day was mostly sunny and clear, and the brilliant sunlight enhanced the scenic grandeur of the valley. About a mile and a half ahead at the end of the valley stood Pacific Peak, towering in pointed splendor. To the right of Pacific lay the south slopes of Crystal Peak. We continued up the gentle valley, past more lakes, bushwhacking across the tundra, until we reached the end of its pleasant grassy meadows, at about 12,500 feet. Here we sprawled out on the soft grass and enjoyed our lunch, under the dramatic gaze of Pacific Peak.
While I was resting after lunch, half dozing, I noticed with surprise a climber atop the sheer ridge just above us to the southwest, and we watched with great interest as he proceeded to glissade about 800 feet down a very steep snow slope to the valley floor about 200 yards south of us. At the bottom he paused a few minutes to rearrange his gear and then proceeded to hike down the valley and soon disappeared.
After lunch we headed back down the trail in the pleasant afternoon warmth. We saw a few other hikers in the upper valley, and dozens more around the lakes. We couldn=t resist stopping at the falls again on the way down, so we sat and enjoyed it once again. About 3 p.m. we returned to our truck, completing this pleasant and very scenic six mile hike.
