Date Hiked: December 28, 2021

Distance: 6 mi (RT)

Elevation Gain: 717 ft

Elevation Min/Max: 7,776 to 8,184 ft

Trailhead Lat/Long: 39.02560, -105.35482

Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service

Fee: None

Directions:

From the north you can work your way down to the trailhead by driving the dirt roads that cut through the Hayman Fire Restoration Area or take Tarryall Road (77) south from Hwy 285 in South Park, all the way south to the turnoff for Happy Meadows Campground. 

From the south, Hwy 24 from Lake George, turn north on Tarryall Road (77) and in 1.3 mile, turn right on County Road 112 towards Happy Meadows Campground. The campground is 1 mile up the good dirt road, the trailhead is a mile past the campground.

Hike Description:

The Platte River Trail is a quiet hike in a remote part of the Pike National Forest north of Lake George. Your reward for hiking this trail comes in the form of solitude, seldom visited forest, and access to the South Platte River.  

The trail starts off by steadily climbing up the hillsides through pine forest with nice views of the gentle canyon formed by this section of the Platte River.  After about 1 ½ miles of forested uphill hiking, the trail drops down to the river, losing about as much elevation as you have gained.  The hike then follows the river banks for as long as you want it to.  According to the maps, the trail follows the river for 1 ½ miles before stopping and climbing up to the Platte Springs trailhead.  I hiked the river for about half a mile before turning back at a good viewpoint.  The return hike has the same up and down profile as the hike out to this point so be sure to save yourself a bit of energy.    

There is nothing mind blowing about this hike, but it is scenic and it is quiet, at least, it is in the winter. The hike is close to the Happy Meadows Campground, so I would imagine that the trail gets some visitors in the summertime. However, this area of the Pike National Forest is generally pretty quiet…unless my kids are hiking, in which case it’s loud…very, very loud…