Twin lakes TH transportaion

[Sirsnappy09]

I am looking for some information on transportation logistics from Denver to Twin lakes. I am pretty sure there is a bus that runs to Leadville, but how easy is a hitch/ride from Leadville to The Twin lakes TH?? I believe it is about 18-20 miles from Leadville to Twin lakes if memory serves me correctly. I am not in any rush and plan on spending a night or two camping in/around the twin Lakes/Leadville area.
thanks

[Slo-go'en]

There is a $12 bus from Denver which goes to Frisco. From Frisco there is a free bus which goes to Leadville. I'm not sure about the last leg, maybe just get on the trail and walk?

[Sirsnappy09]

Thanks. I was thinking walk/hitch to twin lakes. Crash there and then start in the eastern side

[hikeandbike5]

there is no transportation to twin lakes. your options are to hitch from leadville, ask around for a ride, or use a taxi service (cloud city transportation in leadville).

[Shae]

The Leadville Hostel gets a +1 if you're in need. My experience was that it was an easy hitch to and/or from Twin Lakes.

[saltysack]

I did 2 one way car rentals (hertz)cheap from Denver to Leadville airport and Leadville airport to Denver less than $130.00 total for both plus lil gas....besides dogs not being allowed on busses I wanted to check out a few places on way as well as drop my cache atop cottonwood pass. I stayed at Leadville hostel first night then returned car to Leadville airport in morning. It took me 2 hitches to get near twin lakes TH and about 3-4 hours....tougher than I thought would be...I had my lil dog so maybe that hurt or could have been my big serial killer looking self....dunno....Chaffee shuttle is an awesome resource if you need a ride but only runs from near BV to Salida area....all rides only $10!!! I used them twice...once when needed to get to poncha springs to drop off my hurt pup then back to chalk creek TH......again to get back up to cottonwood pass due to my unexpected resupply stop in BV when my food cache had vanished......taxi from Salida/poncha springs to Monarch crest was about $35....


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[Sirsnappy09]

Thanks for the info all. I will probably do the bus from Denver and then stay at the hostel in leadville. I see that they advertise a shuttle service, so I am going to call them tomorrow and inquire.

[Sirsnappy09]

Salty what is the story with the cache?? How?Where? What happened to it???

[Dogwood]

Can take the arrow/black hills stage bus from D to Buena Vista. I've easily hitched fromBV to twin lakes and vice versa several times although if you research it, and although i've never done it, there may be bus service between Lville and BV where the driver may be able to drop you off at the hwy 24/82 junction from where you'd hitch up 82 to twin lakes. hwy 24 is well traveled. hwy 82 less so but I've never as a backpacker had to wait long thumbing it. pull up the maps and you'll see it. BV is an outdoorsy town where lots of people will connect with you hitchhiking as a backpacker. hitching is no less harder or easier if you hitch south to TL from Lville or BV north to TL. I've done it both ways with little wait. so if you don't mind hitching shouldn't be a huge issue from either Lville or bv to the hwy 82 junction.

i'd also rec the extremely well managed Lville hostel for a stay in that area. For tenting on the ct not really within walking distance to lville facilities at tennessee pass within a few hundred yds in each direction. For a stay in the Twin lakes area i'd rec the twin lakes inn which may be able to pick you up in lville or bv with a overnight stay. make sure to check on this pre hike. There are several tenting options around the reservoirs with a CS on the south side near the historical interlaken hotel or on the north side at lakeview CG on the CT. there are other cg options too. you never said what your hiking plans were.

much of this is being regurgitated from well known widely available ct and cdt sources like the CTF Guidebook, NG TI maps, CTF Datebook, previous threads, and from my personal experiences.

http://www.chaffeeshuttle.com/Bus-to...r-and-Gunnison

https://www.thetwinlakesinn.com/fine-food.html

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Bu...4d-106.1311288

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/la...O&parkId=70290

[Sirsnappy09]

Thanks dogwood. I am doing the collegiate loop

[Dogwood]

You know there are several options to where you begin/end the loop? from bv it's not hard getting a ride to Mt Princeton Hot springs and vice versa. i've taken the bus into bv and walked to the 321(rodeo rd)306 junction and quickly received rides to MPS and also hitched easily to the 285/chalk creek rd junction(from salida)and quickly got another ride to mps. the bus goes past this 285 junction as well and even though i didn't do it the bus driver upon some cajoling did drop off a two party backpacking couple at this junction one time when i was on the bus. IMO the MPS location which the loop goes right by is a busier location than where it goes by in twin lakes. MPS can be a bit pricey and perhaps touristy but the resort has always treated me well as a considerate backpacker even without a lodging reservation. i'm sure there are some type of shuttles or group trips that MPS might clue you in on that could get you to the resort. it could be worth a call. MPS could be another nice place to begin/end the loop HYOH.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mo...4d-106.1626326

[saltysack]

Salty what is the story with the cache?? How?Where? What happened to it???

After getting my rental car in Denver I dropped off my resupply box at MPHS and then drove up to Cottonwood pass where dropped a camo 50 cal ammo can lined with an odor barrier bag hidden in what I thought was good spot a lil ways before the road...when I got there looking forward to some food....yea I was ship out of luck....damn thing was gone!!! It took hour or so to get hitch from what was mainly tourist into BV. I'll never do that again as it was only 1.5 days of food.......Leadville hostel and Simple hostel in Salida were great!!! I'll be back!!!


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[Dogwood]

easy enough taking the bus from DIA to salida too where the simple hostel could shuttle you up to and back from monarch pass agreed upon as part of your stay. salida is another good place to begin/end the loop. I've never use the hostel's shuttle service though as i'm more likely to do the hitch between town and the pass. options

[Malto]

I found hitching very easy in that area. I wouldn't hesitate to hitch from Leadville down to Twin Lakes. If you are doing the Collegaite loop then you can start near the inspection from where the road goes to twin lakes.

[saltysack]

easy enough taking the bus from DIA to salida too where the simple hostel could shuttle you up to and back from monarch pass agreed upon as part of your stay. salida is another good place to begin/end the loop. I've never use the hostel's shuttle service though as i'm more likely to do the hitch between town and the pass. options

I guess I'm a piss poor hitch hiker....my mom would be proud...no luck out of Salida and took several hours from Leadville to twin lakes for me....guess it's hit or miss and I'm impatient esp when on a tight schedule.....


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[Dogwood]

Were you hitching with a dog? You've posted pics of yourself. You look stable, non homeless, and not a serial killer to be offered a hitch if you know to work your getting a ride mojo.

Hitching out of Salida to Monarch on Hwy 50 is easy once you get past the Hwy 285 junction @ Poncha Springs. I've asked at the junction at the gas station/convenience store.

[Dogwood]

Might want to loosen up your schedule? You must always microwave your Pop Tarts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8kThoZpF_U

[aaronthebugbuffet]

When are you going?

[saltysack]

Were you hitching with a dog? You've posted pics of yourself. You look stable, non homeless, and not a serial killer to be offered a hitch if you know to work your getting a ride mojo.

Hitching out of Salida to Monarch on Hwy 50 is easy once you get past the Hwy 285 junction @ Poncha Springs. I've asked at the junction at the gas station/convenience store.

Hitched with dog out of Leadville but across from the gas station @ Hwy 50 without dog. I bummed a ride from guy at the simple hostel to Poncha to drop pup back off at kennel after he stayed with me at Simple on second night after I bailed due to weather. I hitched twice quickly from the MC store into Salida....think people felt sorry for me freezing my balls off in my ballet wind pants...


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[Sirsnappy09]

End of August next year. I still need to firm up daes with work as I am scheduled to fly out to Palm Springs area around July/August .