Capitol creek trailhead

This trail is beautiful during fall season when the aspen trees leaves turns yellow-gold. It's almost like walking in an enchanted fairy tale forest. From the parking lot you go through some dense aspen grove, crosses some streams, and cattle grazing ground until you reach Capitol Lake. Very beautiful and the view of Capitol Peak from the parking lot is awe inspiring!

Beautiful. Great camping spots. Amazing hiking around the lake. Capitol peak is one of the hardest 14ers so be prepared if planning on completing the peak. Don't forget your bear can if you are camping up there. Get here early for good camping spots as it gets busy in the summer.

Ditch trail is posted as 'Upper Capital Creek' from the trailhead. Enjoy the top half and watch your step on the bottom half and the top. Cow pies on the bottom, loose rock on top!

Fun independence day hike up the west side back down east side of creek 7 mile loop

Capitol Peak Trail, tough but rewarding hike. Don't park at the main area, drive 1-1 1/4 miles up the rough dirt road, there's a couple of small areas to park by the trail head, you will need a high clearance 4 x4 to get there or walk the extra distance.

Still too snowy to hike past 6 miles. 6/1/20

Great location for hiking and camping. The road leading to the trailhead is steep and muddy and can get tricky after a shower.

Beautiful place to catch sunrise...wait for the sun to light up the mountain tops before you leave!!

Quiet location, snowy trail as of 11/7/21, muddy in spots, excellent views, long drive on 4WD single lane road to get to parking area. We didn’t hike far, just wanted a quick hike for the day.

Just did 2 nights backpacking along the trail. Hiked to Capital Lake on the June 10. Had to cross some snow, and the trail has a lot of downed trees. But, really not too difficult. Beautiful scenery. We too the Capital Ditch trail which should save a lot of descending right off the bat, compared to the Capital Creek trail. They both leave from the same parking area, and reconnect about 3 miles in. The road to the parking area was OK. Honda CRV did just fine.

Summited Capitol! It is a true test of mental strength up there, but it is doable.

There is a fairly large horse trailer parking lot maybe a couple of miles downhill from the end of the road, the trailhead area. Two-wheel drive (2WD) cars must park here, although I have seen 2-3 cars go further up the road until it becomes impassable due to deep/wide holes in the road near its end. Those cars parked on the side of the road in areas where 4WD vehicles could narrowly squeeze past them. I don't think there are more than maybe 2-4 such makeshift parking places. If you drive up that far and there are no spaces, good luck backing down and finding a way to turn around. I parked in the horse trailer parking lot and hiked (with full, heavy backpack) from there to the trailhead. Wow...I wish I could have avoided that given that I had Capitol Lake and then Capitol Peak ahead as destinations. Next time I may consider driving up as far as I can and stash my backpack in the brush, then driving back down to the horse trailer parking lot. Still have to hike up from there, but at least without 35 lbs on my back. I'm guessing it's about a 2-mile hike, at a fairly steep incline. If you have 4WD *AND* high ground clearance, you should be able to get past the few deep and wide holes in the road and make it to the upper parking area at the trailhead. There is significant parking space there. One more point, if you're attempting to start out on the "Ditch Trail", the trailhead sign for that is actually labeled "Upper Capitol Creek Trail". Be forewarned that, at least in my opinion, the Capitol Creek Trail is not well marked. There are forks in the trail with no sign at all to explain which branch of the fork goes where. In at least one case, there is a fork where one branch is labeled, "Trail". Depending on the paper or GPS map you're using, said forks/trails may not show up. Last word of advice, where you are required to cross Capitol Creek, this might be more of a challenge than you are expecting. In mid-June 2017, the water was deeper and more forceful than I expected. For a few steps it was thigh-deep and I almost got swept away. All items in my pockets and lower portions of my backpack got wet. Even items in zip-lock bags, I guess due to the force of the water. In spite of all those difficulties, portions of the hike were as beautiful and rewarding as any I've done. Just be informed and prepared.

The trailhead is the main trailhead for capital mountain and capital lake.

Once you hit dirt road continue past the horse trailer parking on the right, past the cattle grate and sign saying you are entering a mixed use area. Then up a steep hill (need a car with some clearance to get up). It will be obvious parking on the left of the road by the trail signs. One trail that goes down into the valley is at the first set of parking spots and the one that stays high on the side of the valley is further by the second set. If your car has low clearance you can enter back at the cattle grate where a horse trail goes up and meets the trail heading down in to the valley. It will add about a mile one way.

Happy hiking.

A special place that I hope everyone gets a chance to see and do their part to keep it special.

This is a great alternative to the Maroon Bells if you do the loop. I did it clockwise but I feel counter clockwise would be better. Was here for the aspens changing color - fantastic

Perhaps the most stunning view in populated Colorado. A challenge at points, but supremely fulfilling climb.

My preferred was of getting to Capitol Peak as it is short than the ditch trail. The extra elevation is minimal and the shorter distance.more than makes up for it

Access to one of the most challenging 14er's in Colorado. Even just a hike to Capitol Lake is worth it.

Gateway to awesome camping at Capitol Lake and great views of Capitol Peak the whole way up.

Just got done building the road up to Capitol Peak Trailhead and great condition