Last Updated on January 8, 2014 by James Dziezynski
Panoramic view of Mica Lake Basin. Click image for larger view.
There’s nothing particularly secret about the Zirkel Wilderness. It’s right there on the map, about 20 miles outside of Steamboat Springs with all sorts of well marked trailheads and plenty of incredible destinations. Maybe it’s the lack of 14,000 foot peaks or the longish drive from the Denver metro area that keeps the Zirkel Wilderness a low-traffic area. Whatever the reason, there’s no shortage of beautiful alpine scenery. Even when the popular trailheads seem a bit crowded with vehicles, people tend to disperse nicely. You probably won’t be entirely alone but you likely won’t encounter more than a handful of people on your adventure.
The colorful corridor that starts the Mica Basin Trail in Steamboat Springs.
Mica Lake Basin was on the agenda this October thanks to exquisite camping and dog-friendly trails. Starting from the Slavonia Trailhead, the well-marked trail to Mica Lake is 3.8 miles and 2,000 vertical feet one way – a nice, modest push and very amenable to backpacking. Starting with aspen lined corridors, the trail winds up through willows and several easy river crossings to exceptional camping around 10,428 ft. Mica Lake. Besides the ample camping around the lake, there are several nearby “shelves” of flat land with numerous creeks and water sources for more private camping. Add to that a full forest of blown down, dried deadwood for campfires and you have an ideal backcountry setting.
Fremont must have scared away all the frolicing nymphs in this pool along Mica Creek. The tongue to nose trick is really just showing off.
Willows are just as colorful as aspen!
Some of great camping areas in the Mica Lake Basin.
Once in the basin, summit hikers and technical rock climbers have great options for getting up on the nearby peaks. For example you can climb 11,497 ft. Little Agnes Mountain or 11,233 ft. Little Agnes Mountain (apparently Big Agnes had twins!) The highpoint of the basin is Big Agnes Mountain at 12,059 feet and a fantastic class 2/3 scramble. There are also some sweet, solid unnamed towers and rock walls for technical class 5 climbs and an exciting east ridge sawtooth scramble (class 4 or low 5) to 11,497 ft. Little Agnes.
Mystic on the ascent to Medium Agnes.
Since we were camping with dogs and wanted to them to be part of the adventure, we had to eschew the exposed scrambles of Big Agnes and go for “Medium Agnes” peak, a high point at 12,057 ft. 0.1 miles from the true summit (separated by a deep gully). This off-trail scramble is more dog friendly, though there are few exposed patches near the very top; you may want to avoid these if your dog is a rampant rock climber!
From the summit of Medium Agnes looking down.
The hot tub of the gods. Sort of.
The twin summits of Big Agnes (including the true summit on the left) are tantilizingly close from the top of Medium Agnes.
Sheila and the boys on the ridge back to Mica Lake.
Views from Medium Agnes are astounding. Besides the entire Mica Lake Basin, views to the east of 12,180 ft. Mount Zirkel are fantastic. Great swaths of aspen cut through the landscape, owing to the lower elevation of these quartzite summits. An unnamed high alpine lake just to the northeast of Big Agnes/Medium Agnes is chiseled out of the hard rock, sort of a hot tub of the Gods (you know, if it was hot).
Fremont takes in the views of Mica Lake.
Cool squiggly quartz.
Unlike the higher elevation areas of Colorado, water is abundant in the Zirkel Wilderness which can make it a bit buggy and mushy in the spring. Autumn may be the ideal time to go as the aspen change to fiery orange and bright lemon-yellow. Don’t underestimate the colorful willows that line Mica Creek as well.
Fremont and Mystic take a dip in Mica Lake after the climb!
There’s other fantastic areas to explore in the area including Gilpin Lake, Gold Creek Lake, the abandoned Slavonia Mine and the Mount Zirkel Basin. But for a great weekend outing to peak potential, you really can’t beat Mica Lake Basin. Top it all off with a visit to Strawberry Hot Springs after your hike and you’ll have Colorado mountain bliss written all over your face.
