On a recent trip to Steamboat Springs Colorado, I hiked almost everyday. Getting outside and moving is so good for the soul. The Mica Basin Trail is located at the end of Seedhouse Road. The area is rather crowded, but few people hike this particular trail.
Beginning of Mica Basin Trail
The Mica Basin Trail is an 8.2 mile out and back hike to Mica Lake. Do not let the shorter length of this hike fool you. There is a little over 2100 feet of elevation gain. The entire trek to the lake is an incline. At times it is relatively steep. Past about the 1.5 mile mark, the trail becomes rocky. It remains that way until you go through the pass. Once you are over the pass, the trail traverses through the basin. The scenery is lovely. It is pretty much classic Colorado high alpine.
Walking Through The Basin
This is the trail through Mica Basin. It's not as steep as the earlier trail, however it continues to climb until you reach the lake. The basin is flanked by Big and Little Agnes peaks. The photo on the right, shows Big Agnus (12054). They are both quite lovely and provide lots of visual interest. I guess if you are an adventurer, you could venture off trail and summit one of the peaks. Since I was by myself, I chose to stick to the obvious trail.
Mica Basin Lake
Granted Mica Basin Lake is not the prettiest lake in Colorado. It probably doesn't even rank in the top 100. The beauty of this hike is the solitude. At a trailhead where the parking lot was almost full when I arrived, and overflowing when I left, I found immense solitude on this hike. I saw one other person while hiking in the basin. I passed a group of four on my way out. That was it! I never saw another human the entire hike. Plus, this is a great workout. It's a hike that can be completed in 4-5 hours depending on how long you stop at the lake. I highly recommend this trail for those looking for a great workout, some solitude, and an amazing wilderness.