Hike the Lehman Creek Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Starting elevation is nearly eight thousand feet and you'll climb above nine thousand — altitude can sneak up on visitors arriving from sea level. If you feel lightheaded or nauseous, turn around rather than pushing through.
Snow and ice can linger on the upper sections well into late spring. The trail gets narrow and exposed in a few spots where a slip on packed snow could send you downslope — bring microspikes if hiking before June.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Start at the upper trailhead near Wheeler Peak Campground and hike downhill to Lehman Creek Campground instead — you'll need a car shuttle, but you'll trade a grinding climb for a leisurely descent with the same views and half the sweat.
The trail connects to the Wheeler Peak and Alpine Lakes trails at the upper end, so you can use it as an access route in winter and spring when Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is gated closed — just be prepared for snow above nine thousand feet into May.
The best fall color window is typically the first two weeks of October. The aspen groves around the two-mile mark photograph best in late afternoon when the low sun backlights the leaves against the dark canyon walls.
Photos
B. Mills
