**DESCRIPTION:** This is Day 3 of 3 of a Fall Colors tour to Summit County. Each day will be a separate event, so you can choose which days to attend.

**On this 3rd day, we will do one of the best fall hikes within the 2hr range of Denver:**
This will be our 3rd time doing this hike during fall colors. When we first did it in 2012, it easily rivaled Kebler Pass! The fact that it is much closer to us is a bonus!
Photos from 2012: [https://4142298.xyz/denverphotohikers/photos/10765782/](https://4142298.xyz/denverphotohikers/photos/10765782/)
Photos from 2016:
[https://4142298.xyz/denverphotohikers/photos/27288623/](https://4142298.xyz/denverphotohikers/photos/27288623/)
Approximately 2.8 miles from the trailhead, the trail intersects with the Gore Range Trail (FDT 60). Turn right and continue approximately 0.6 miles to the next fork and turn left and head south to the Eaglesmere Lakes.

The trail maintains a steady climb through aspen and pine forests, eventually reaching a clearing offering views down to Lower Cataract Lake and the Lower Blue Valley beyond
Continue on, and the forest changes to pine and spruce, with a thick, almost old-growth feel to it.

This is an excellent hike to view fall colors with soft expanses of aspen groves, where the individual trees are as tall and large in diameter as aspen grow anywhere in Colorado.

**Photography highlights for this day:**

* Fall Colors / Aspens
* Mountain Panoramas
* Lakes

**Dinner at the Red Mountain Grill** ([http://www.redmountaingrill.com](http://www.redmountaingrill.com/)) in Dillon will follow after the hike.

You will have the option to spend the night to join us for the events prior to this day.

**Lodging will be coordinated with attendees who are signed up to go.** If at least 8 people attend, we will book 2 private rooms with 6 bunk beds in each (one for each gender). Payment will need to be sent to Erin in order to book (required in advance by the hotel). If less than 4 people of each gender attends, I will help locate standard hotel room. As of today (Tues 9/17), there was still availability for hotels in Summit County.

**Link to USFS trail description and information:** [https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/recarea/?recid=40919&actid=51](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whiteriver/recreation/recarea/?recid=40919&actid=51)

**Map to trailhead:** [https://maps.app.goo.gl/5LA8x62xzD6okpaN9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/5LA8x62xzD6okpaN9)

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**\* \* \* TRAIL STATS:**
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**Type of Trail:** In/Out
**Level of Difficulty:** Lower Intermediate
**Roundtrip Distance:** 7.6 Miles
**Starting Elevation:** 8727ft
**Highest Elevation:** 10400ft
**Time on the trail:** 5hrs to 7.5hrs [Estimated, depending on distance hiked, and pace of overall group] (allow extra time to gear up / down at car before & after hike)
**Anticipated temperature range:** TBD
**Dogs Allowed?** No, out of concern for camera equipment / tripods

**\*\*\* What to bring:** SEE THE GOOGLE FORM (LINK IS BELOW UNDER RSVP STEPS)

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**RSVP IN 2 SIMPLE STEPS:**
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**1\. ANSWER QUESTIONS IN GOOGLE FORM \(MANDATORY\)\,** Takes 5 minutes only: **[https://forms.gle/x1q71LQgKZPaHadu6](https://forms.gle/x1q71LQgKZPaHadu6)**
**2\. RSVP ON MEETUP**
\*The Google Form helps us group the carpools with those with the most compatible plans for the day, and allows you to fill out an optional emergency contact and medical info form that we give to paramedics in the event something happens to you on the trail... Your RSVP is not complete until these questions are answered. If the form is not completed, you'll be moved to the waitlist until it is filled out. It will take you about 6 minutes to fill out; 10 minutes if you also fill out the emergency contact form. It also contains info on what to wear/bring.

**PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR ADDITIONAL \*\* IMPORTANT \*\* INFORMATION INCLUDING THE ITINERARY & INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DAY AND THE CANCELLATION POLICY** (I ran out of character space here :-\ )
**[ITINERARY FOR THE DAY & CANCELATION POLICY](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NpxIc142fHCviURRt8SSKJyEWztWRsiWY5NLf2lJdKk/edit?usp=sharing)**

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BEFORE YOU RSVP HERE, YOU WILL NEED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN THIS FORM (MANDATORY): https://forms.gle/x1q71LQgKZPa  ||  Please also provide your text capable phone number so we can send out time-sensitive updates regarding this event only

Summit County Fall Colors Weekend, Day 3: EAGLESMERE LAKES (2nd weekend option)

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