Lost Creek Wilderness Backpacking Trip Report – Goose Creek, McCurdy, Lake Park & Hankins Pass Loop
Distance: 23.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 5,606 ft
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
Trailhead: Goose Creek Trailhead
Crew: Justin, Anna, and Stephen (“Flip-Flop” from Stephen Outside on YouTube)
Be sure to check out the full trip video on YouTube here: Hit the Trail
Introduction
Colorado’s Lost Creek Wilderness might not have towering fourteeners, but it makes up for it with unique rock formations, lush meadows, hidden caves, and endless wildflowers. This summer, we tackled the Goose Creek, McCurdy, Lake Park, and Hankins Pass Trails Loop — a 23.4-mile route that packs a punch.
Joining us was our friend Stephen (“Flip-Flop”), who we met on the Pacific Crest Trail. He’d done this loop before and was eager to play tour guide. We kicked things off with a pre-trail pack weigh-in:
Anna: 20.9 lbs
Stephen: 17.4 lbs (with some “gear loopholes”)
Me: 24.8 lbs — complete with whiskey, a chair, and all the luxuries a backpacker could want.
Day 1 – Goose Creek to Camp
Mileage: 12.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~4,000 ft
We set out from the Goose Creek Trailhead under a clear morning sky, eager to start the loop. The first step was to fill out a permit. They’re not required in advance or limited in number, but visitors must fill one out before heading into the wilderness. After we had our permit filled out, we were on our way!
We began our hike on the Goose Creek Trail, which took us right down to, you guessed it, Goose Creek! It was a great start to our trip, hiking under trees next to a flowing creek. About 4 miles in we made a quick detour to our first stop at the historic shaft house, a weathered relic of the area’s history. It was built as housing for workers who would construct a damn that would have flooded Lost Creek Wilderness! Fortunately, that never came to fruition. However, the shaft house still stands.
We hopped back on our trail and continued on. The trail continued to impress us, and test us, as it rolled up and down through the trees. Although there are no towering fourteeners in the Lost Creek Wilderness, the views were still awe-inspiring, and the rock formations were truly magnificent!
Along the way, two hikers passing the opposite direction let us in on a little secret — a hidden cave that required wading through a shallow creek to explore. So, of course, we had to explore the cave! About 9 miles in we found the entry point. Wading through cold water, we emerged into a natural rock chamber with natural skylights and echoing walls — an unexpected highlight. The cool air inside and the trickle of water made it a perfect midday adventure.
Back on trail, the climbs kept coming... and coming…. and coming… By late afternoon, a refreshing drizzle of rain came in to cool us off just before our big climb of the day. We were already 10.5 miles in, and now had a 2-mile, 1,100 foot climb up to our intended campsite. It was a doozy! As we made our way up, the clouds cleared and gave way to a beautiful evening.
With 12.5 miles and thousands of feet of gain behind us, we rolled into camp ready to set up, and ravenous for a serious dinner. We set up camp near a gently flowing creek at the edge of a meadow. Beautiful spot!
We had neighbors on either side of us, but all were respectful and quiet. In other words, perfect backpacking neighbors. Stephen had beans, Anna whipped up taco meat with cheese, and I dug into my Skurka beans and rice. After 4,000 feet of climbing, everything tasted like a five-star meal… except Anna’s taco meat.
After dinner and a nightcap, it was off to bed for some well-deserved rest.
Day 2 – Meadows, Vistas & Berries
Mileage: 11.2 miles
Elevation Gain: ~1,600 ft
The overnight weather was perfect: cool air and a gentle breeze. Even being by a meadow next to a creek, we managed to wake up to zero condensation in the tent. We couldn’t have asked for a more peaceful morning!
After coffee and a quick breakfast, we hit the trail. Stephen had promised us an “easier” day. Instead, the morning greeted us with — you guessed it — more climbing.
A few miles in we turned off the McGurdy Park Trail and onto the Lake Park Trail, which took us to the high point of the loop at 11,500 ft and took a side trip to a panoramic overlook Stephen had been keeping secret. The payoff: wide-open views of rugged granite spires, green valleys, and a sky so big it felt endless.
From the high point of the trail, it was all downhill. About 3,700 feet to be specific. This felt welcomed after the morning climb and the previous day. The descent brought softer terrain — rolling meadows dotted with wildflowers and trailside wild strawberries small enough to fit on a fingernail but bursting with flavor.
With a few miles left the clouds rolled in and gave us a gentle sprinkle, then a heavier sprinkle, and then… well, we’re glad we packed the rain jackets.
Fortunately, the rain was short lived. Just before finishing, we stumbled into a patch of ripe raspberries, which we considered trail magic. A great way to end the trip! We made it back to the trailhead and had our celebratory post-hike brews.
Final Thoughts
This loop is not for the faint of heart. With 5,606 ft of climbing at high elevation, it’s a workout — especially on Day 1. But the payoff is huge: caves, rock formations, sweeping vistas, and fresh berries make it a truly special route in the Lost Creek Wilderness.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. But if you’re new to backpacking, build up to it first. We managed to complete the loop in two days, but we would recommend most hikers tackle this in three days, two nights. For experienced hikers, this is an unforgettable two-day challenge.
Special thanks to Stephen for guiding us and keeping surprises in store — from hidden caves to bonus viewpoints.
Be sure to check out our trip video on YouTube, and be sure to subscribe to the channel here: Hit the Trail
Check out the trail on AllTrails here.
Have you hiked in the Lost Creek Wilderness before, or is this hike on your to-do list? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, we’ll see you out on the trail. Cheers!
Be sure to check out full video of the trip below!
