Lone Peak Hiking Options
This path requires a lot of bushwhacking, and there is not much of a defined trail. It is a pretty canyon, but because of so much underbrush and dead fall the year we hiked (Aug 30, 2019), and a lot of energy was expended bushwhacking all the way up Little Willow. Possibly some years or earlier/later in the year it might be better.
This option follows the old logging trail up the Little Willow/Big Willow Ridge, then straight up through the pines until connecting to the Trail of the Eagle.
Here is another option for hiking Lone Peak shown below. This route (also included in a GPX file found from the link above), follows the normal Jacob's Ladder route, however, on the way back, we climbed up into the drainage that leads down to the Outlaw Cabin, before once again connecting back to the Jacob's Ladder trail.
Here is yet another path to Lone Peak. On this trip I hiked up Jacob's Ladder, then came down Big Willow. I think it would be easier going up big Willow as opposed to down depending on the conditions we experienced (ice and sand mix). I unfortunately don't have the GPX file for this hike anymore. I've also never recorded hiking to Lone Peak via Big Willow canyon, but that is also a path I've taken.
I had always wanted to try to hike Lone Peak via Little Willow by staying in the Little Willow drainage all the way to the top, and finally did it on Aug 30th, 2019 (on my 79th Lone Peak summit). This path requires a lot of bushwhacking and there is not much of a defined trail. It was pretty, but I'm not sure it is a path that I'll want to do again.
Ranking the Hikes
Jacobs Ladder:
This is my favorite for speed. This is the most common route I take. I think it's the fastest. It's very steep, and some hate that on the knees going back down, but it you're trying to save time, then this a quicker route.
Cherry Creek:
This is my favorite route for beauty. If I want to spend a little more time hiking, then this will be my pick over the other routes. If it's a hot day, you'll want to have plenty of water. I also hike this a little different than many. Once I get to about 8500 feet, and the trial T's with a trail to the right and left, I just hike straight up the mountain and connect into the Draper Ridge/Jacob's Ladder trail, as opposed to going to the left and connecting into trail of the eagle.
Draper Ridge:
Back when I started hiking Lone Peak in 1985, this is the only route I took. I think this could be a favorite route, but it has become very overgrown, so it makes it a little more difficult to stay on the path, and at times you will be pushing through the brush.
Trail of the Eagle:
Although this is a pretty hike, I don't like taking it very often. There are too many switchbacks on the way down the last 3 or 4 miles, and it seems to take forever. This is a great trail if you're taking a horse, or you don't mind the extra length, but it's not my favorite.
Little Willow then Outlaw Cabin:
This is a great hike, with one tricky part. I didn't figure this hike out until my 70th Lone Peak summit, because I'd missed finding the right trail along the Big Willow and Little Willow ridge, and then I was not sure how to tie into the Trail of the Eagle. I finally figure it out, and it's a cool hike. The section from the Little Willow stream up to about 9000 feet is very step, and not much of a trail. You're at times able to follow orange blazes painted on trees, but it still easy to get off the "trail." However, as long as you keep heading up, you'll eventually run into the trail. The GPX tracks provide above will help.
Little Willow then Outlaw Cabin:
This is a great hike, with one tricky part. I didn't figure this hike out until my 70th Lone Peak summit, because I'd missed finding the right trail along the Big Willow and Little Willow ridge, and then I was not sure how to tie into the Trail of the Eagle. I finally figure it out, and it's a cool hike. The section from the Little Willow stream up to about 9000 feet is very step, and not much of a trail. You're at times able to follow orange blazes painted on trees, but it still easy to get off the "trail." However, as long as you keep heading up, you'll eventually run into the trail. The GPX tracks provide above will help.
Big Willow:
I love hiking Big Will, but I don't think it's great for getting to Lone Peak. Some like to take this because there is availability of water later in the year, and although it's extremely beautiful, I'm not sure it's the greatest path. It will take longer, and you'll want to be very carefully going up the scree field to get to the last summit of Lone Peak. It's probably ok in the summer, but I did it once in the late fall, and there was a layer of ice covered with dirt that made the hike quite dangerous. It is probably better in very early summer when you can hike up the hardened snow field. Be careful with falling rocks.
Bell Canyon:
I've only done this once, when I hiked up Cherry Creek to Lone Peak, then down Bells Canyon. I think it would be easier going up Bells from near the Lone Peak summit, since it was harder to pick the best route when dropping down off of Lone Peak into Bells.
Little Willow all the Way:
This path requires a lot of bushwhacking, and there is not much of a defined trail. It is a pretty canyon, but because of so much underbrush and dead fall the year we hiked (Aug 30, 2019), and a lot of energy was expended bushwhacking all the way up Little Willow. Possibly some years or earlier/later in the year it might be better, but it was not my favorite trail.
