Lost Man Lake Colorado Fly Fishing
It’s September in Colorado as fall approaches. I hiked this same trail into Independence Lake a year ago to catch some brook trout on a fly. Trailhead is just below Independence Pass at 11,500 feet in elevation.
Hunter FryingPan Wilderness area is the headwaters for the Fryingpan River and Hunter Creek, this area has numerous lakes and stream with good trout populations. The wilderness area is 82,026 acres with 65 miles of hiking trails and 11 trailheads. Looking for some tranquility and starlite nights, this is the place.
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- Morning Alpenglow of Independence Pass, Colorado
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- Alpenglow gains in intensity
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- Alpenglow is now beginning to fade as the sun rises higher in the sky and the moon sets, Time to head down to Lost Man Lake Colorado Trailhead
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- Starting up Lost Man Trail, it lead to the headwaters of the Frying Pan River, Independence Lake and our destination today of Lost Man Lake in the Hunter Frying Pan Wilderness Area
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- Looking back down at the parking area, an outfitter is unloading horses and heading into camp. It's opening weekend of Archery season.
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- In mid July the alpine valley would be carpeted with a variety of wildflowers. It's still a very beautiful hike.
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- It's a little chilly with some ice in places this morning, as I wait for the sun to come over the divide and warm the bones
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- Creek from Linkins Lake flowing down to meet the Frying Pan River
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- Here comes the sun and I say all right
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- Looking back across the highway into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and up to Independence Pass Colorado
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- Remnants of a few wildflowers still left in the protection of the streams growth from the frost
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- Crossed creek heading in the Hunter Fryingpan wilderness in a few more steps
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- Up Lost Man Trail hoping to sun reaches the valley floor soon, there is ice along the stream and its a bit chilly this morning
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- Wilderness Sign, a Great Alpine Tundra Hike with great Colorado Fly Fishing along the way
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- RX Bars are my personal favorite energy snack on trail
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- Still quite green, if you are looking for a great wildflower hike this is it in mid July
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- Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area to the rear
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- Hoping the sun gets here soon
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- About to cross the Fryingpan River
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- It good that I can step over it, it's a bit chilly this morning
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- Once on the other side the trail follows the Fryingpan River up to Independence Lake
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- Fryingpan has carved a small gorge through the rock on its way down
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- I am looking down into the mini gorge of the Frying pan River below Independence Lake hiking to Lost Man Lake for some Colorado Fly Fishing for Cutthroat with Get Lost in America | Saltwater on the fly
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- Meadow above the gorge blanketed in shades of green with blue waters flowing through it
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- Another closer look into the canyon and the river below
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- Looking down the mountain through the gorge
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- Lights shadows over an alpine valley as it embraces rays of dawn as the chill of the night slides away over the terrain with suns approach
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- Narrow valley turn looking backdown where I have hiked through
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- Up the trail to the bench where Independence lake lies talking with the morning breeze
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- I find trails no matter where they are picturesque like humanity
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- Down and across is Colligate Peaks Wilderness Area, with several very rugged 14ers, but not the toughest of them. This wilderness area and the Weminuche Wilderness Area are two of my Colorado favorites
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- Fryingpan River can be crossed in two steps, up here below Independence Lake, there bits of ice on rocks and back eddies
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- Ridge below the lake
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- Closer look at the ice layering the creek
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- Looking at how the trail winds from here up to the lake, its a gentle climb as it opens to the lakes
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- First glimpse of Independence Lake
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- Independence Lake with a beautiful glacier silt glow in the morning sun hiking
Independence Lake to Lost Man Lake Colorado
From Independence Lake at 12,500 feet in elevation, I hike up over Lost Man Pass at 12,815 feet in elevation down to Lost Man Lake for a little Colorado fly fishing for Cutthroat.
From Lost Man Lake is a beautiful remote location and can be reached from trailhead down Hwy. 82 as a 9.5 mile loop hike. Trail comes down past Lost Man Reservoir to Lost Man Campground. If you decide to do the loop get a ride to the upper trailhead, it’s an easier hike, starting at Lost Man Campground is a tough up the mountain hike. I recommend spending a night or two at Lost Man Lake. The night sky is incredible.
Lost Man Lake is 0.23 miles in length and 0.13 miles in width making it 13.6 acres with a depth of 53 feet. Lost Man is a great Cutthroat Trout fishery. Fly fishing I use chironomids, pheasant tails on a very slow retrieve and streamers such as small black wooly buggers in size 8’s and 10’s.
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- Leaving Independence Lake to hike up over Lost Man Pass, a couple of hikers coming up behind me
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- Just starting my climb to Lost Man Pass, Colorado
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- View of Independence Lake as I climb to lost man pass
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- A Spring as we climb to the pass
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- Looking back at Independence Lake one last time
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- Looking back down the Alpine Valley and Collegiate Peaks wilderness peaks in the distance
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- Up to Lost Man Pass
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- First view of Lost Man Lake from the pass
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- Independence Lake from Lost Man Pass while fly fishing Colorado with Get Lost in America | Saltwater on the Fly
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- Down the Pass to Lost Man Lake, a ruggedly beautiful Alpine region in the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness Area with Get Lost in America | Saltwater on the Fly
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- Close up of Lost Man Lake as I descend the pass
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- Topography of the descent are varied with rock gardens to alpine grasses the closer to the Lost Man Lake I go
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- Looking Back up at the Rocky section of the trail
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