Mark's Nordegg Fall Colours Explorer: Cline River/ Pinto Lake Trail (9/30/2017)

Come out to see the fall colours in the front range mountains in Bighorn Backcountry.

We will keep a fairly brisk pace with some steep hills. Good physical condition is a recommended prerequisite.

The trail head is just on the south side of the Cline River bridge, on the west side of Highway 11. Coordinates are shown on the map.
The Continental Divide Trail Association has cleared and improved the trail just last Summer. We plan on hiking into the established Waterfalls Creek campsite (for lunch near the waterfalls). We will then explore some more in the area based on the timing and weather (optional return to the cars sooner if necessary). Click HERE FOR BROCHURE & MAP for more info about the Cline River/Pinto Lake Trail ( the trail is on the top of the map on the second page of the brochure ) . I plan on doing a back packing trip next Summer where we can do many more trails around Pinto Lake itself such as the waterfalls, caves, and the "Trees of Renown".
Pinto lake was named after renowned geologist Arthur Coleman's cantankerous pack horse in 1893 (the lake is below Mt.Coleman and Sunset Pass). Seems Pinto created enough grief to get this lake named after him. The White Goat Wilderness area and the Cline River Valley are in view from the trail. This is the same trail that the famous explorer Mary Schaffer travelled with her companions over Sunset Pass/ Pinto Lake Pass from the Banff area.

Carpool payment: for those that do want the EOC to arrange the carpool for you, we have a new communal payment system. Please DO NOT pay your drivers en route. Passengers will pay Mark when they get to the staging area and he will distribute the money to the carpool drivers evenly.

Click HERE for more info and tips on backpacking and hiking.

We'll meet at the carpool, just outside the Starbucks for 6:00 AM, so we can be in Nordegg for 9:00 AM.