Hermit Lake- A high mountain 4 wheeling and fishing adventure.

Another weekend brought another trip, this one to a new location.  On this trip, you could expect beautiful views, shaken bodily structure, mosquito bites, and to almost be knocked over by a golden retriever with a stick.  Not to mention good food, and plenty of exercise.  Bob and I had planned a trip to Hermit Lake months ago.  This was to be a warm up hike for our trip to another high mountain lake, which we have planned for July.  Hermit lake is located near the town of Westcliffe Colorado.  From Colorado Springs you take highway 115 south to Florence.  In Florence you take highway 67 and then catch highway 69 west toward Westcliffe.   In Westcliffe turn left (east) on main street/hwy 96 go a couple blocks and turn right on Highway 69 (south). There will be an "antlers liquor store and motel on this corner.  Take 69 south a few blocks and turn right (west) on hermit lane/hermit lakes road/CR160 all the same.  There will be a gas station on your left at this intersection.  Once on hermit road you will be able to see the road go across a valley and up into the trees keep going till you get to the trees then the road veers to the left.  We were told by a previous website that it was only about 4 miles from the beginning of the tree to the trail head for Hermit Lake.  Truth be told, it's closer to 6 miles.  These six miles are 6 very rough miles too.  The whole trip takes about 3 hours from Colorado Springs, but the last hour and ten minutes or so are the last 6 miles.  I felt like I was in the movie Ace Ventura When Nature Calls  as we bounced down the road.  I couldn't help but hum the words pretty chitty bang bang as Jim Carrey did in that movie.  A four wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended for this trip.  If you attempt it do it in a 2wd vehicle you better have plenty of ground clearance.  Bob has owned his truck for 3 years now.  Previously it was owned by a contractor.  The ride up this road shook several screws and nails out from under his truck bed liner.  Before this ride, bob did not know that those were there.  There were 2 cans of Pepsi in the cooler which rubbed together so much on the bumpy ride, that the logos rubbed off!  It looked like somebody took a piece of sandpaper to them. 

This is a good picture of how rocky the road is.









      We drove for a very long time up the crag like roadway.  We followed a creek along the road and passed on several good opportunities to drop out line and catch some brook trout.  There were several camping spots along the road that were tempting, and judging by how many people with 4 wheelers we passed, this is a top location for wheeling.  Just before we reached the Timberline, we found the sign marking the trail head to Hermit Lake.  From the trail head it is only a half mile to the lake.  We camped at a spot right next to the trail head with the view of mountains and the sound of the stream in the background.  As we set up, it became obvious that the bug spray we brought was going to come in very handy.  Mosquitos managed to find exposed skin whenever we sat still.  They liked to eat our dogs too.  The spray helped a lot.

  





 Setting up.

 


 All set!

 The views.

 God's work is impressive. 

 Bodie and the Beast.  Bodie and Jaxin enjoy the mountain air. 

Jaxin is a handsome Golden, but he can't show up that scenery.  

 Bob and the pups at sunset.

 The creek near the campsite.

We cooked burgers and hot dogs on the fire and played cribbage for 3 or 4 hours.  Jaxin and Bodie located and chewed as many sticks as possible, often becoming a hazard as some of the sticks were small trees.  Jaxin almost took me out with a stick to the back of the leg and he almost cost me $30 for a new lantern too.  Luckily, we all survived, even Jaxin who almost poked his own eye out with one of the sticks.

 




 The coals of the campfire glow in the night.

 One of Jaxin's trees he found.

 The campers!

 Jaxin should be more careful!  Lucky for us, he didn't hurt himself.







In the morning we had oatmeal, packed up our camp, and loaded up the backpacks for our fishing trip to Hermit Lake.  While we ate breakfast the dogs let out a growl.  Bob looked up to notice a deer walking near our campsite.  We told the dogs to stay and the 4 of us and the deer enjoyed each other's company for a brief moment.  After our enchanted moment we headed down to the trail.  The trail is very easy to follow and it crosses the creek a couple of times on bridges.  The dogs found patches of snow on the trail despite the fact that it is almost July now.  They reacted as if they had never seen snow before in their life.  And then we saw the lake.  It is magnificent, and although the picture are nice, they don't fully do it justice.  If you like the pictures, I highly suggest you make a trip to the lake someday.  The lake is easily waded as it has a very large shelf on the edges and we were able to wade out several feet without worrying about being too deep.  There is also a large Beaver dam just below the lake which was full of small brook trout.  In this setting you have to sneak up on the fish as the water is very clear and they are easily spooked.  The fishing was not as we hoped.  Pretty slow all day.  We caught a handful of brookies, with a cutthroat mixed in.  Streamers such as Wooly Buggers, and Pistol Petes were most effective in the lake although mosquito, gnat, and small dry fly patterns such as Parachute Adams, and BWO's would be very effective most days.  Small flies were hatching throughout the day.  I even saw some Stoneflies occasionally.  We had moderate success with Copper John patterns too.  They were also taking worms.  It was a fun day despite the slow fishing because it was an adventure and a challenge.  Plus, look at the scenery we enjoyed.  As they say, "The worst day fishing is better than the best day working."  I think these pictures indicate that it would be pretty hard to not have fun just being in the presence of God's country if you have any affection for the outdoors whatsoever.

    




 The deer makes it way into our campsite.

 Jaxin watches the deer peeking around the tree but stays put.

Bob and Bodie make eye contact with the deer.  What a cool moment.  

Bob and Bodie on one of the bridges that crosses the creek on the trail down to Hermit Lake.

 




The trail down is easy to follow if there isn't much snow on it. 

The dogs rolled in the snow and celebrated as if they met up with a long lost friend. 

Jaxin carried bottles of water down to the lake for us in his backpack. 

Jaxin arrives at the lake.

Hermit Lake 6/26/2010

Jaxin and Bodie on the banks of the lake. 

Jaxin wanted to come in the water with me so badly, but it was just too clear and he could have spooked the fish so I told him to lay down and stay.  He did a great job!

He got excited when I would get a bite though.

Bob fishing the beaver pond directly below the lake and taking in the scenery. 

Plenty of good holes in the beaver pond.

Standing in the beaver pond, looking back toward the lake which is just above the small waterfall you see pictured. 

Another view of the lake.  If you look closely you can see a waterfall in the trees which is the biggest creek that feeds the lake. 

This is the waterfall I mentioned in the previous picture.  Fishing below the inlet was where we had the most success.   

Jaxin and I, enjoying the Rockies on a Saturday afternoon.

We had to get 1 picture of the 4 of us, just before we left.

This picture is as we were leaving.  The storm clouds and accompanying thunder had made their way in.  This is looking back toward Westcliffe on our way down the rocky road.  Till we meet again Hermit Lake!