{"id":6677,"date":"2024-07-02T23:10:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T05:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grunschev.com\/wordpress\/?p=6677"},"modified":"2024-07-02T23:10:53","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T05:10:53","slug":"wheeler-lakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/grunschev.com\/wordpress\/2024\/07\/wheeler-lakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Wheeler Lakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Monday, June 24<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This little hike punches above its weight. The first part of the trail is alongside I-70. Wheeler Lakes are small forest lakes nowhere near any dramatic peaks. But once you get away from the road noise, it’s a pleasant little hike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from Denver, I parked at the “Scenic Area” just short of the junction with CO 91. It’s more like a chain station for the big rigs that has parking for a trail. If you’re coming from the west or south, you can park at Copper Mountain and walk over the overpass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The traffic noise is somewhere between tolerable and annoying. It doesn’t let up, but it varies. It’s engine noise and tire noise and wind noise. When it’s just cars, you can hear the tires slapping rhythmically on the expansion strips. Motorcycles add a bit of trombone. Every now and then you hear the belch of a Jake brake. The trail here is flat and nearly level, so you can set a quick pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you gain elevation, the highway noise starts to soften. When the trail crosses a little stream, the road noise is finally covered by the babbling brook. The trail moves primarily through thin forest and passes by several grassy marshes and grassy hillsides, granting more open views. The trail climbs incessantly, but never steeply. There’s a large aspen grove that would be quite nice in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n