Finch Lake Trail

Finch Lake Trail is an out-and-back from Finch Lake Trailhead to a shallow lake in thick lodgepole pine. The mapped tread and a detailed route account put the return at 8.6 miles; the park's trail table gives 4.5 miles each way, so plan for about nine miles. Allow 7–8 hours. A stiff opening climb, high elevation, and a sharp descent just before the lake make this a hard day, not a quick lake stop.

The first 0.8 mile climbs about 485 feet up a ridge. The grade eases through ponderosa pine and aspen. At roughly 1.3 miles, take the right-hand branch for Finch Lake. A break in the canopy near 1.9 miles opens a view of Mount Meeker. At the next junction, around 2.3 miles, continue straight; the left branch leads toward Allenspark and the right toward Calypso Cascades. Near 2.5 miles the trail crosses the old Ouzel Fire area. Around 3.9 miles, a footbridge crosses a stream before the trail drops sharply to the lake.

Lightning started the 1978 Ouzel Fire on August 9. Chinook winds pushed it toward Allenspark on September 15, and it eventually burned more than 1,000 acres. The trail crosses part of that burn on its way to the lake, a reminder that the open forest here has a particular history rather than being a random break in the trees.

Finch Lake is shallow and ringed by dense lodgepole pine. Look west toward Ogalalla Peak and Mount Copeland. The east-shore social trail is permanently closed to protect the Rocky Mountain capshell; stay on the established route and do not follow that side path. The return retraces the same corridor, including the steep climb back from the lake and the opening ridge.

From Highway 7, turn onto Wild Basin Road; after the park entrance station, follow the narrow gravel road about 1.8 miles to Finch Lake Trailhead. A visitor-described small lot serves the trail, but its capacity is not verified. Pets are prohibited on park trails. Day-use restroom and drinking-water details were not found, so bring what you need for a full day away from services.