Mount Audubon Trail System

The Beaver Creek Trail to Mount Audubon begins at the north (right) side of the Mitchell Creek Trailhead parking lot. The path climbs steadily to the northwest through typical subalpine forest for more than 0.5 mile to a long set of switchbacks. From the western end of the second switchback, you get a fine view of Mount Toll rising behind a steep rocky slope of Mount Audubon. As the trail zigzags, the trees change to limber pines and then back to scrubby spruce and fir as you near tree line.

A short distance above tree line, the trail divides. The Beaver Creek Trail continues straight ahead and eventually leads to the Coney Flats Trailhead. There the trail heads due west, eventually connecting to the Coney Creek Trail and the Buchanan Pass Trail (see Routes from Beaver Reservoir).

At the trail division a short way above tree line (1.7 miles from the trailhead), the Mount Audubon Trail goes to the left and bends up a gradual tundra slope. Displays of alpine wildflowers are excellent in this area in July and August. Watch for alpine pedicularis, whose deep pink blossoms are uncommon on the tundra.

The trail winds across tundra toward a large snowbank, then zigzags up some distance to the right of it. The terrain is very rocky in the switchbacks; this is an excellent place to see cushion plants such as moss campion. Once above the switchbacks, the trail levels on tundra. Follow the tundra uphill into the saddle immediately north of the main bulk of Audubon. Turn sharply to the left and climb steeply, following cairns and snatches of trail to the summit. Watch for big-rooted spring beauty; it has white blossoms tinged with pink blooming around a large rosette of fleshy leaves, which turn brilliant red in autumn. This plant seems to be much more common on Audubon and the rest of Indian Peaks than on the mountains farther north in the national park.

You can descend from Audubon by the same route you ascended, or you can descend the southwestern ridge to climb Paiute Peak. From the saddle between Audubon and Paiute, the easier route tends toward the northern side of the ridge and up to Paiute’s summit. Glaciers cut high cliffs that drop steeply on all sides. Be careful.

Descend Paiute from the low point in the ridge between Audubon and Paiute via a very steep gully to the Mitchell Creek drainage. There is much loose rock in this narrow couloir; be careful not to kick it downhill and batter the body of a fellow climber. When you finally reach Blue Lake, an easy tramp of 2.5 miles lies ahead to the Mitchell Creek Trailhead parking lot, where you began hiking. This is an excellent and exciting circuit trip.

Beyond its junction above tree line with the Mount Audubon Trail, the Beaver Creek Trail ascends straight ahead on the right. After a few yards it descends by relatively easy grades and a few wide switchbacks toward Coney Flats, a broad open area along Coney Creek. Soon after it begins its descent, the path reaches tree line—a mixed limber pine, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir woodlands.

This path is a pleasant walk that crosses branches of Beaver Creek and passes the junction of the so-called Stapp Lakes Trail. Actually, the Stapp Lakes Trail goes nowhere near Stapp Lakes, which are on private property visible from above tree line on Mount Audubon. The Stapp Lakes Trail comes out on a four-wheel-drive road connecting Coney Flats with Beaver Reservoir. Note that the trail is not maintained.

From where the Beaver Creek Trail reaches Coney Flats, it is a 3.5-mile hike through lodgepole pines down a four-wheel-drive road to Beaver Reservoir and a road passable by normal passenger cars.