Prospector Village 105D

The route mapped here takes hikers along the Mesa-Cortina Trail from the trailhead on the southwest side of Silverthorne. You'll quickly enter the Eagles Nest Wilderness, and then make your way through some of the most beautiful and peaceful aspen forest in the area, and you'll have plenty of amazing views along the way. The falls along this route are spectacular after heavy rain.

The Lily Pad Lake Trail is located in the Eagle Nest Wilderness off of Ryan Gulch Road. Toward the end of the road there is a parking area on the left. From here, there are two different trailheads that leave from the parking lot, so make sure you take the Lily Pad Lake Trailhead. This trail is a great option for families. It is easy to follow, with multiple signs showing you which way to go when the trail splits. Toward the beginning you will travel through thick lodgepole pine and aspen...

This trail runs from the trailhead, which can be found at the end of Ryan Gulch Circle. There is a parking area which sometimes becomes full during busy times, so you might want to consider carpooling. From the trailhead, hikers will make their way up to the top of Buffalo Mountain. The trail is completely uphill on the first half of the hike, and then all downhill on the return trip.

This is a varied and interesting trail that deserves its ‘hard’ designation, since the boulder field and the following steep and rough descent to the creek are tough for inexperienced hikers. The length and elevation gain aren't anything crazy, but the terrain itself is very tough, so this distance may take longer to cover than expected.

This is a short trail that packs all the fun and beauty of some of the longer ones in the area into a manageable size. The length and elevation gain of the trail shouldn't be too challenging for most hikers who hit the trail regularly. From the trailhead, this trail heads northwest a brief walk up to Old Dillon Reservoir, then does a loop around it before heading back.