Overnight at Sourdough Campsite

To camp in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park, you'll need a permit. The link below provides all the information you'll need for securing your permit, bear awareness and wilderness preparedness. Consult the Backcountry Guide before setting out on your adventure in the park

http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/upload/BCO-Guide15.pdf

If it's the low season, you can park near the trail head on Bear Lake Road. From the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center, follow Hwy 36 west for 1.3 miles before turning onto Bear Lake Road. Follow Bear Lake Road for approximately 9 miles before reaching the parking lot at the end of the road.

If you're in the park during the summer or busier season, start your day early by parking at the Park and Ride lot and boarding the Bear Lake Loop shuttle. Ride the shuttle to the Bear Lake Parking area and avoid the struggle of waiting for a parking space to open up. The Bear Lake parking lot fills by mid morning during the summer.

Sourdough Campsite is located approximately 2.65 miles from the Bear Lake trailhead and parking area. The campsite sits at 10,600, meaning that you will climb 1,150 feet from Bear Lake, which sits at 9,450 feet about sea level. Depending on pace and the shape you're in, expect to spend 2 to 3 hours climbing towards your campsite.

From the Bear Lake parking lot, follow the gravel trail towards the lake. At Bear Lake ( N40 18.716, W105 38.761), veer right and follow the groomed path around the lake shore until you reach the Bear Lake Trailhead. The path will climb gradually to 9,725' for .45 miles until you reach the Odessa Lake-Mill Creek Basin junction (N40 19.051 W105 38.638)

Turn left and follow the trail as is steadily climbs for one mile towards the Flattop Mountain Trail split (N40 18.987 W105 39.185). Stay to the right and follow the trail towards Odessa Lake. The trail will continue to climb as you come to a scree field after 2.25 miles.

Shortly after the scree field, you will come to a small snow field that persists through July. Route finding can be a bit of a challenge if the trail has seen limited traffic. Pick a point directly across the snow field from where the trail disappears and head towards it. Once cleared of the small snow field, the trail will become evident once again and regain its easy markings.

At 2.65 miles you will reach a small sign on the right side of the trail that leads to the Sourdough campsite (N40 19.357 W105 40.359). Follow the spur up the small hill to find the campsite.

Dump your gear, except for your camera and water, and head back down to the main trail. Continue hiking for .5 miles to reach Lake Helene (N40 19.238 W105 41.142). The trail will crest (10,610') and then dip back down towards the lake. Follow one of the several unmarked spurs to the lake shore.

Lake Helene sits on the east slope of Flattop Mountain, Ptarmigan Point and Notchtop Mountain. The lake is partially concealed by krummholz and its access spurs are unmarked, which can make reaching the lake difficult. If you make a sharp turn and start heading downhill, you've gone too far.

For a longer trek, head back to the trail and continue pushing forward as the trail makes a sharp right hand turn. The trail will hug the West side of Joe Mills Mountain as it heads down Spruce Canyon towards Odessa Lake. As the trail opens you will get fantastic views of both Knobtop Mountain and Little Matterhorn.

At 4.1 miles you will reach the Odessa Lake access spur (N40 20.024 W105 40.975). Follow the short spur for .15 miles to reach the lake. Once again, stunning views await you as you now get a different vantage point looking back up Spruce Canyon.

If the day is still young, head farther down the trail towards Fern Lake for another stunning alpine lake where greenback cutthroat trout thrive. If you're spent or short on light, retrace your steps back towards the Sourdough Campsite.

Water is available from Mill Creek which begins at Lake Helene and flows back down the trail towards the Sourdough campsite. Several small ponds also exist along the creek. Directly opposite the Sourdough campsite, a beautiful small pond provides numerous large rocks to sit and watch the sunset behind the mountains.

The Sourdough site itself is comfortable, nestled between a bed of spruce trees, which provide a nice shelter from winds that can whip in the night. A vaulted toilet provides an additional level of comfort for those who may be new to the backpacking experience.

This is a fantastic first hike for someone adjusting to the altitude of the park. Easy first day with plenty of options for exploration and challenging spurs if you're up for a little more work.