Three years ago, my family discovered a gem tucked away in the mountains near Breckenridge, Colorado ~ Spruce Creek Trail. My son was three at the time, and with the help of a Kelty child carrier backpack, we hiked on this breathtaking trail to the first of three lakes—Mayflower Lake. There at the lake, we found a rocky outcrop to rest our feet and enjoy a picnic. Oh, we savored the gorgeous scenery—the massive mountains surrounding us, the clear mountain lake with a healthy stock of trout, and the stoic evergreens towering over us. I knew in that moment we’d be coming back.
And yes, we’ve hiked this trail several times since then, each time stopping at Mayflower Lake. But this last Sunday (Father’s Day), we decided to hike on past our usual stopping point to the next lake on the trail—Lower Mohawk Lake. We stopped midway to eat lunch alongside Continental Falls. Now that was a treat, for sure!!
The last stretch to the Lower Mohawk Lake challenged us all as it snaked up a steep section of the mountain. My little guy was such a trooper, though, as he pressed onward, eager to see what awaited us up on top. One of the highlights for him was grabbing onto an old cable (used to lift and lower ore carts for mining operations) to climb the steepest section of the trail.
When we finally reached Lower Mohawk Lake, we breathed in the refreshing mountain air and marveled at the alpine lake and beautiful scenery. Oh, it was well worth the extra exertion to reach the lake!
For more information about about Mohawk Lake Trail, please click here.
Photographs of Our Hike
For this hike, I carried my Nikon D100 (digital SLR) with me so I could capture the breathtaking scenery along the way.
As I searched for worthy subjects to photograph, I remembered the many times I had joined my dad on photo outings. You see, my dad was a talented scenic and wildlife photographer. Much of what I know about photography I learned from him. Oh, I miss him! But each time I peered through the viewfinder and pressed the shutter release, I thought of him—his love for photography and for nature. How peaceful and comforting that was for me.
Below I’ve posted several photos I took on our hike. I hope you enjoy them! :0)
The beauty of wildflowers
Dainty wildflowers along the trail
My favorite mountain flower ~ the columbine
Colorful and vibrant wildflowers
The pristine Spruce Creek
My little guy tries out his new binoculars for the first time.
Oh, this is the life for me!
Continental Falls
A mountain view from the remnants of an old cabin
Gorgeous mountain views on the last stretch to Lower Mohawk Lake.
Oh, you can’t beat Colorado’s blue skies!
Lower Mohawk Lake. . . Yep, that challenging hike was well worth this view.
Remnants of mining operations on the mountain.
Close-up of tramway used in mining operations in late 1800s.
My family
These boots were made for hiking, but after a six mile hike, give me my sandals! :0)
Oh wow, it really is breathtaking and so worth the extra effort! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, this is a special place, and it was such a treat to spend Father’s Day with my family on the trail. Thanks so much for your ongoing support of my blog and your encouragement! I love stopping by your blog to check out your new recipes! You’re doing such a great job with it!:0)