Jerome Rocks Lake

Thursday, August 13,14 2020

Yeti and I left home early to get to the Spanish Peaks TH by 7:15am. We passed lots of bison on the Turner Ranch along the road and in the road!

The morning proceeded quietly walking along the creek. We turned up on the trail to Pioneer Falls. Though a bit steep, we did fine hiking slowly and taking in the views. The meadow after the falls is really pretty, and wildflowers were still nice. The trail gets steep for the last two miles to Jerome Rock Lake and Yeti had a bit of trouble there. But, we made it and had lunch and a rest there at the lake. We only had a few miles to go - - getting over 9200 feet. The meadows on top were filled with flowers – it was great, quiet, and surrounded by craggy peaks.

We decided on a different route on the Camp Creek Trail and after a mile going downhill found a stream. That was our camp for the night. We set up tents off the trail in the woods and spent a peaceful night there.

The next morning, we left early and stopped about an hour or so later in the sun for coffee and breakfast. We had about 8-9 miles to the TH and it was mostly down, with only a few ups not too steep. We passed a few day hikers, a backpacker, and a horse group. The final bit of trail slabs a grassy slope and then angles down to cross the creek just before the parking lot and TH. Great overnight. We were out early enough to head to the Café Havana for lunch!