Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail
Roosevelt National Forest · 0.55 mi one way · about 10 min
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One file with the route sketch, numbers, mapped facilities and a checklist, for when you have no signal. It does not include map tiles, conditions or closures.
Overview
Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail is mapped as a trail of 0.55 mi in Roosevelt National Forest. It is not a loop: you walk it one way or out and back.
It runs between 10,294 ft and 10,350 ft above sea level, a difference of 56 ft.
The mapped surface is ground.
Mapped difficulty (from the source data): mountain hiking.
Dogs are tagged as allowed on a leash.
Estimates
- Computed effort band: easy (from length and climb; not an official difficulty).
- Estimated time 10 min one way by Naismith's rule, which assumes steady walking and adds time for climbing. Real time varies.
Before you rely on this
- Water points are mapped nearby, but mapped is not tested or guaranteed: treat any water and carry your own.
- Check the land manager for closures, seasonal rules and permits before you go; none of that is verified here.
Elevation
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys on the chart to read a point; it is shown on the map too.
Before you go
- Parking
- 5 parking areas mapped near the start (nearest about 0.11 mi away). Fees and limits are not included. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Trailhead and directions
- Start at 40.07891, -105.57313. Directions to the start ↗
- Permits and fees
- We have no verified permit or fee details. Official pages: Roosevelt National Forest ↗, Boulder County ↗. not verified
- Dogs
- Dogs on leash mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Water
- 1 drinking-water point mapped nearby. Mapped is not tested: treat water and carry your own. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Toilets and facilities
- 5 toilets mapped. mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Accessibility, bikes and horses
- Bikes allowed · No horses · Not wheelchair accessible mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors
- Seasonal rules, closures and hazards
- Not verified here. Check the land manager (Roosevelt National Forest ↗) and read the hiker condition reports below. No report does not mean the trail is open or safe. not verified
Weather at the trailhead
Today: sunrise 7:14 AM, sunset 6:19 PM (computed from the trailhead location).
Forecast for the trailhead area from the U.S. National Weather Service, updated Oct 17, 12:46 AM. Mountain weather changes fast and can differ a lot by elevation: check the official forecast for your route before you go.
Recent conditions
Reports come from Arête members, not from land managers. They show when something was seen, not whether it is still true. Check official sources before you go.
No condition reports in the last 30 days. Conditions are unknown, not necessarily good.
Reviews
No reviews yet, so there is no rating to show. We never invent ratings. Sign in to be the first to review this trail.
Photos and places from hikers
Added by community members and checked by our team before they appear. Photos have their location data removed. These are not official information.
No approved photos or places yet.
Along the way
Water
- Drinking water (mapped)41 ft from startNo fee mappedUnnamed OSM ↗
Mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. Not tested or guaranteed: springs can dry up and water must be treated. Carry enough water.
Trailhead and facilities
- ParkingUnnamed OSM ↗
- ParkingUnnamed OSM ↗
- ParkingUnnamed OSM ↗
- ParkingUnnamed OSM ↗
- ParkingUnnamed OSM ↗
- ToiletsUnnamed OSM ↗
- ToiletsUnnamed OSM ↗
- ToiletsUnnamed OSM ↗
- ToiletsUnnamed OSM ↗
- ToiletsUnnamed OSM ↗
Parking and toilets shown are within about 0.25 mi of the trail start.
Points come from OpenStreetMap contributors and can be missing, moved or out of date. How we label data.
Nearby trails
Data, sources and how the numbers are made
| Length | 0.55 micomputed |
|---|---|
| Route type | Not a loopunknown |
| Surface | Groundfrom source |
| Difficulty | Mountain hiking (OSM sac_scale)from source |
| Elevation gain (as drawn) | 11 ftcomputed |
| Elevation loss (as drawn) | 55 ftcomputed |
| Estimated duration | about 10 min one way as drawn (Naismith's rule)computed |
| Official verification | Not verified by an official sourceunknown |
Length is measured from the route geometry in the source data, so it can differ from signed or official distances. Gain and loss describe the direction the line is drawn; the route view above shows the other direction and out and back. Elevation is computed from USGS 3DEP 1/3 arc-second DEM (public domain), sampled about every 10 m and smoothed.
© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Overpass API extract: Boulder County, CO (hiking relations + named paths). Licence: ODbL 1.0. Data version osm-2026-10-16, imported 10/17/2026. View the source record · Improve this trail on OpenStreetMap ↗ (free account needed; corrections reach us on the next import)
Frequently asked questions
How long is Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?
Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail in Roosevelt National Forest is 0.55 mi long, measured from its route geometry in OpenStreetMap data. Signed or official distances can differ.
How much elevation does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail gain?
Walking from the start to the end as drawn, it climbs about 11 ft and descends about 55 ft, between 10,294 ft and 10,350 ft. These are computed from the USGS 3DEP elevation model and can differ from other apps; the other direction swaps climbing and descending.
How hard is Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?
OpenStreetMap tags this trail "Mountain hiking" (sac_scale). That is a mapper's rating, not an official one.
How long does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail take?
About 10 min one way for a fit hiker, by Naismith's rule from the length and climb. It is an estimate: allow more for rest, photos, heat, altitude and weather.
Where does Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail start?
The route starts near 40.0789, -105.5731 (Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder County). Use the Directions button to open it in your maps app.
Are dogs allowed on Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?
Dogs are tagged as allowed on a leash in OpenStreetMap. Rules can change by season and by land manager, so check posted signs and the official page.
Is there water, parking or a toilet at Brainard Lake Cutoff Trail?
Mapped in OpenStreetMap near this trail: 1 water point, 5 parking areas, 5 toilets. Mapped water is not tested or guaranteed: carry your own. Fees and permits are not included here; check the official page.
Trail data can be wrong or out of date, and Arête is not an emergency service. Check official sources, weather and closures before you go.