A Hike Close to the Ranch

This past Saturday was a crisp, sunny day; not a cloud in the sky. We started up the 4WD road towards the old Rita Alta mine. Several miles up the road is the old trail that crosses over a ridge and down through a valley and connects to the North Brush Creek Lake Trail. This is the shortcut known to locals that gets one into the lake area quicker than the normal trail that comes up the mountain from the Rainbow Trail. It is still a 4.5 mile hike to the upper lakes, but it provides an easy day hike into beautiful high mountain lakes. The normal trail starts from the Duckett Creek Trailhead. Starting at that trailhead provides a very pleasant, but longer walking alternative.