Isabelle Glacier Trail

Is your four legged friend is ready for their next adventure? Then it’s time to hike the Isabelle Glacier Trail. This trail gives your pooch the chance to touch a glacier with their paws. Plus, they’ll experience puptacular high mountain scenery along the way. It doesn’t get much better than that!

To get to the actual Isabelle Glacier Trail, hop on the Pawnee Pass Trail at the Long Lake Trailhead in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area. After less than half a mile, you will arrive at Long Lake. Take a look around this beautiful lake before continuing on the trail. Soon the Lake Isabelle junction comes into view. Follow this trail to Lake Isabelle. This is the pawfect place to stop for some water and trail mix.

While Lake Isabelle itself is a pupular destination, your adventure seeking pup knows there’s more to see! So continue your hike on the challenging, yet rewarding, Isabelle Glacier Trail. It runs along the north side of the lake then climbs past some waterfalls to a meadow shelf. Keep trekking until you reach another valley full of ponds, streams, and willows. The last part of the hike takes you and your pup up some steep and rocky terrain. The trail can be hard to find, so watch for cairns. Once you arrive in the glacial basin, the gorgeous scenery will knock your pup’s socks off! Isabelle Glacier is surrounded by the majestic Shoshone, Apache, and Navajo Peaks.

You can explore the glacier, just make sure you are extra careful since the terrain can be unstable. Please note that this hike begins at 10,500 feet. So if you and your pup aren’t used to hiking in high altitude, expect to be a bit slower than normal. Bring more than enough water and snacks. Primitive restrooms are located at the Long Lake Trailhead. This is one hike your doggo will never furget!