Zimmerman Lake Trail

The Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland has a number of trails that showcase its gorgeous areas, but nothing is more pretty and easygoing than the Lake Zimmerman Trail. This trail featuresses desert ridges and a lake in the mountains, and also offers an extensive beach for fishing and swimming. The trail itself is well-maintained, with a wide gap that winds through the alpines.

Start at the Lake Zimmerman Trailhead, where there is a large paved lot with plenty of parking and restrooms to use before heading out for your hike with Fido. Bring water for the journey, and bags to clena up after your pup. The trail is easy and even, and is wider than most, mainly because it is also used as a horse trail and was once an old logging road. The path is partially shaded as it winds through Douglas firs, pines, and alpine trees.

The path eventually reaches a fork that begins the loop that surrounds the lake. Heading north up the fork will lead you to a break in the trees that opens up to a sandy beach. Swimming is popular in the summer, along with fishing or bird watching. The rest of the lake is surrounded by patches of trees, with fields of grasslands that lead to the foothills of mountains that surround the lake. The trail finishes its loop around the lake where wildflowers can be seen in the spring and summer months, although in the winter is covered in snow. Wildlife like moose, deer, foxes, bears, and Catamounts can be seen in the area. The trail eventually connects back to the original fork to complete the loop and heads back to the parking area.

The Zimmerman Lake Trail is an easy-going path that is easy on your's and Fido's feet, with a gradual incline that will offer crystal clear views of the lake and nearby mountain ranges.