Back to Home Page Hikes in The Lost Creek Wilderness AreaTable of Contents: Day Hike to Hankins Pass July, 1999 I had read about a trip in this area of Lost Creek in an article by Chris Kallio in About.com and thought this would be a good day hike with a definite goal, Hankins Pass. I did some further research by reading Zoltan Malocsay's book Trails Guide to the Pikes Peak Country, 1991 edition. I followed Zoltan's road directions, taking Highway 24 west out of Colorado Springs to just west of Lake George, turning there onto the Tarryall Road toward Jefferson. The Tarryall Road has been recently repaved in part and is a good blacktop road for the first few miles. As you approach the trailhead, about 13 miles from the turnoff, you can get good views of the formations in the Lost Creek Wilderness Area. I parked in the free parking area just outside the entrance to the Spruce Grove Campground, shouldered my daypack, made a brief stop at the campground restrooms and then sought out the Lizard Rock Trailhead. The trail starts near the entrance to the camping areas, at a parking area behind the restrooms, crossing the creek on a small footbridge. I started out about mid-morning on one of those days that makes you know why you live in Colorado- the temperature was in the 80's, not hot, high thin clouds, and the smell of a pine forest hanging in the air. The trail itself was a fairly easy grade, winding first past some fenced private property, then up a drainage and towards Lizard Rock. As I hiked I casually looked at various rock formations to see if I could spot the source of the name of this trail, but when I saw Lizard Rock, no imagination was required - the formation really looks like a giant iguana lying atop a mountain ridge. At the top of the ridge the trail splits - one branch heads over and down to connect with the Brookside-McCurdy Trail while the other continues up to Hankins Pass. There is another unmarked trail which winds up the backside of Lizard Rock, bringing you out onto the rock outcropping with views back down into the Tarryall valley. The trail on up to Hankins Pass slowly climbs through the timber on the backside of South Tarryall Peak, giving glimpses of rock formations across the drainage. Near the top the trail cross a small stream which can serve as a source of water for anyone camping in the area. The area near the stream is damp and is home to lots of mosquitoes, so if you are intent on camping, I would suggest find a spot further on. About a hundred yards past the stream is Hankins Pass, where the trail to Lake Park starts. The pass is fairly flat and has evidence of camping in the area. There are good views of the surrounding rock formations and the back of South Tarryall Peak, but no grand views down the drainages. After a bite to eat, I returned the way I came. I took the detour up to Lizard Rock, but since I could see and hear rain across the valley, I decided it was best to hurry along. The final mile or two was in a light drizzle, with occasional thunder. I was glad for the most part the trail was in the trees, which I hoped afforded me some protection from the lightning. All in all, I agree with the published trail descriptions, and would recommend this hike, probably more of a day hike than an overnighter, since there is not much at the top of the pass. August, 1999 Since I had enjoyed my day hike in this area of the Lost Creek Wilderness Area so much, I decided to return for an overnighter. My original destination was Lake Park, but decided at the last minute to head to McCurdy Park. I parked at the Twin Eagles Picnic Area, which is about a mile a two beyond the Spruce Grove Campground on the Tarryall Road. Here, it costs three dollars to park - a sign says that the area is being monitored more frequently to ensure the fee is paid. After filling out the envelope, depositing my three dollars and putting the envelope stub on my dash, I headed up the Brookside-McCurdy Trail. The trail immediately crosses a stream and heads to the left, through a passageway between some large boulders. On the other side of the passageway there may be a question on which way the trail heads, up or down, but it does go over some rock slabs down to the stream and follows the stream for a short way. The trail heads up to a junction in a meadow, where there is an old, now unused trail register. The trail is clearly marked with a trail number 607 signpost, which points you off to the left. The trail is relatively flat for a while, with signs of frequent use by horses. The trail follows around some private property to the intersection with the Hankins Pass trail, about two miles from the trailhead. Just beyond is a flat, secluded area at a stream crossing, which is probably a destination point for those picnicking at Twin Eagles. From here, the trail starts to climb. After passing some small rivulets, the trail switchbacks up to intersect and follow (via more switchbacks) a small wooded stream. Several spots along the stream provide a place to grab a snack, wet your bandana or even to soak your feet. Continuing upward, the trail moves away from the stream, the grade lessening somewhat as it winds through tall timber. Eventually, after I wondered if there is a top, I reached the intersection with the trail to Lake Park at the top of a small ridge. The trail then heads downward for a short way to pass a pond which is near the headwaters of Hay Creek. Then, after a few more switchbacks up another ridge, I reached the crest and looked into McCurdy Park. The trail follows along the edge of the park, which is a large meadow with a stream down the middle, the stream surrounded by willows and bogs. I cut off from the trail and found a camping spot near some large boulders in the middle of the meadow. It looked like this was a preferred camping spot, since there was a fire pit in the center of one rock right by where I pitched my tent, but the area was clean, free of any trash. Dumping my pack, I grabbed my collapsible water jug and headed to where I thought the stream may be, hidden by the willows. I crossed though the bog, which was like walking on a trampoline. I had this fear that at any step I could break through, but by keeping close to the willow hummocks, I made it to the stream (and back) without mishap. The stream water was surprisingly warm, heated by the sun shining on the surface of the bog, I guessed. At any rate, I was tempted to spend a little time skinny-dipping, having what seemed like the entire park to myself After I pitched my tent I filtered the water I had collected, arranged the food that I was going to prepare for dinner, leaned my air mattress against a large rock, read a little and enjoyed the day (it was about two in the afternoon) and surroundings. One rock feature caught my eye - it was a straight-as-an-arrow diagonal "fault" or crack in a rock formation on one side of the valley. Perhaps someone can give me a lesson in geology and explain how that crack came to be. Unfortunately, while my back was turned, a chipmunk raided my bag of gorp, but he didn't get away with too much before I caught him, and had him for dinner (just kidding.) The tameness of some of the critters in the park really surprised me - a marmot gathered whatever marmots gather just feet from me, for the most part just ignoring me. Also, the next morning, a large rabbit did almost the same thing, again just feet from where I watched him. Later in the afternoon a group of about five people joined me in the valley, camping a reasonable distance away. At dusk I heated some water, cooked dinner (freeze-dried), built a small fire in the fire pit in the rock and just watched and poked it until it was well after dark. After soaking, turning and soaking the coals to make sure the fire was out, I turned in. I had to get up in the middle of the night, and when I stepped outside the tent I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the night. It was completely clear - no moon, just billions and billions of stars, and occasional "shooting stars" from the Perseid Meteor Shower. Truly a night worth remembering. When I awoke in the morning, the sky was slightly overcast with high clouds, so I decided to just pack up and head back down. Going down was almost as long as coming up, but the sun did come out for awhile. Just before getting back to the car, it started to drizzle a bit, prompting me to put on a rain jacket for the remainder of the hike. The car was where I had left it, no tickets or anything, and after throwing my pack in the trunk I headed back to Colorado Springs. Further Reading
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