The Pierre Lakes occupy a sprawling, rocky basin below Capitol Peak (14,130’) and Clark Peak (13,568’) in the Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness. No maintained trail reaches the lakes, however a strenuous and navigationally challenging route follows Snowmass Creek and Bear Creek up to the basin.

Peaks framing the Pierre Lakes basin are distinguished by the whitish-grey rock of tertiary intrusives, in contrast to the red-purple hues of stratified sedimentary rock of the Maroon Bells

The lower lakes are flanked by Clark Peak (13,568') and outlet to the north fork of Bear Creek

The route runs approximately 1 mile from treeline through open alpine meadows that grow progressively rocky up to the lakes basin

The Elk Mountains formed around 34M years ago when Oligocene magmas intruding the Colorado mineral belt hit the all-sedimentary Elk Mountain anticline and the adjacent Sawatch uplift

The waterfall on Bear Creek requires a challenging scramble that climbs several hundred feet from the base to level ground on top of the falls

A sparingly marked route with some exposed Class-III scrambling scales the right side of the waterfall

A tall knoll (12,300') between the largest lake and lower lakes offers great views of each, and down the north fork drainage

Paintbrush is in the genus 'Castilleja', named for 18th century Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo

Capitol Peak (14,130'), well known for its daunting 'Knife Edge' approach, is ranked #23 of 53 Fourteeners in Colorado

View of Snowmass Mountain (14,092') across the sprawling basin, which understates just how large these boulders are

Sunflowers are in the genus Helianthus, which comprises the Greek word 'Helios' (sun), and 'Anthos' (flower)

Snowmass Creek can be difficult to cross, especially early in the season and after heavy rains

Though fairly level, travel is tedious through large and uneven boulder fields across the Pierre Lakes basin

The Pierre Lakes stunning color comes in part from minerals in pulverized rock

Raspberries are particularly abundant on the hike to Pierre Lakes, especially along open rocky slopes in the middle valley

The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative restored eroded slopes on Capitol Peak and finished constructing a trail to the Mount Daly - Capitol Peak saddle in 2002

The open valley along upper Bear Creek accesses Heckert Pass, which can be scaled to reach the Snowmass Lake basin

Snowmass Mountain (14,092') is ranked #31 of 53 Colorado Fourteeners by 14ers.com

The waterfall descent provides great views of the Bear Creek - Snowmass Creek valley confluence

The Pierre Lakes