Twin Lakes trail trail is located between Leadville and Buena Vista just off Hwy 24, and is slightly over 14 miles in length. You ride on the road east from the visitor center about 1.25 miles before veering off to the right onto single track. Much of the single track along the north eastern side of the lakes is as above; arid with sage and few trees giving it a high desert feel.
Looking back across the eastern lake towards Independence Pass which leads to Aspen.
Looking back towards Mt. Elbert, high point to the left. The eastern portion of the trail is rolling and fairly hard packed.
Picking up the Colorado Trail as you turn west along the south side of the lake.
The trail dives into the trees, and runs along a nice bench cut side hill along the lake for a mile. Just enough rocks to keep things interesting.
Dropping into an Aspen grove with a nice creek crossing at the bottom.
Bit of history along he trail. Relocated and restored Dexter home; it has a lookout the you can climb up to on top. Here's a link to some of the history: http://www.coloradoinfo.com/leadvilletwinlakes/interlaken
The trail continues around the lakes, climbing slightly at times with a few rock gardens to keep things interesting. The above is an image of the typical tread width through the forested sections of the trail. A storm was moving in from the pass as I neared the western terminus where you hop on 82 to for the paved ride back to town. I decided to attempt to cut off the final two miles by crossing the Arkansas river, which I forded with no difficulty other than some sore feet. Little did I know that the .5 mile from the river to the road was marshy, filled with many small creek crossing, and mud. I had to hike a bike through a number of these marshy areas due to mud, and water rising above my hubs. The rain that was threatening never appeared, and I would been better off staying on the trail for the last mile, and crossing the river at a bridge upstream. Live and learn.
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