Hessie Trailhead

Hessie Trailhead, on the Forest Service’s Boulder Ranger District, leads to the Devils Thumb, Lost Lake, King Lake, Woodland Lake, Diamond Lake and Continental Divide trails. About the first mile west lies outside the Indian Peaks Wilderness; past the boundary, wilderness rules apply: no motorized or mechanized travel, dogs on a hand-held leash, no campfires, groups of 12 or fewer. To get there, take Colorado Highway 119 south from Nederland 0.6 mile, turn west on County Road 130 toward Eldora, and continue past the end of the pavement. There are no restrooms.

Boulder County’s Hessie Trailhead page (https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/parks-and-trails/hessie-trailhead/) describes the free Hessie Shuttle from Nederland: it picks up at the Nederland Park-n-Ride on Fridays and at Nederland High School on other days, every 15 minutes, with leashed dogs welcome. The county also notes that roadside parking on Fourth of July Road (CR 111) is allowed only between the signs, with a $50 fine or towing, and that the shuttle does not go to the Fourth of July Trailhead. The Forest Service’s Indian Peaks Wilderness page (https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp/recreation/indian-peaks-wilderness) says bear canisters are required year-round near all of the wilderness’s trailheads.