Easy access from Interstate 70 makes Booth Creek a popular destination. One of several valleys located close to the town of Vail, Booth Creek allows the hiker to visit the heart of the rugged Gore Range. This drainage offers something for everyone: a short walk to a spectacular waterfall, a longer hike to a pristine mountain lake, or, for the adventurous, a fun scramble to a spectacular summit.
In a few weeks, this hike will offer some of the best aspen-viewing in the state.
Hike description
From the trailhead, hike steadily uphill on the well-maintained trail for 1.8 miles to Booth Creek Falls.
If you continue on to Booth Lake (2.2 miles beyond the falls), you will enter an alpine environment with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks. The trail ends here, so this may be a good lunch spot. However, with a little more work it is possible to reach the summit of the highest of the peaks surrounding this basin – unofficially named West Partner Peak – 13,047 feet high.
To climb West Partner Peak, head for the small tarn, northeast of Booth Lake at an elevation of 11,870 feet. A grassy gully will provide access to this tarn, the start of the gully marked on the map by the waypoint “GULLY.”
From this small tarn, the southwest ridge of West Partner rises directly to the summit. There are two options for climbing the ridge. The easiest is to scramble up grassy slopes on the right side of the ridge (following occasional cairns) until able to traverse left and gain the ridge above some obvious rock slabs (waypoint “LEAVE RIDGE”). From here it is straightforward scrambling up large talus to the summit.
The most aesthetic line, however, and the most fun is to go up the grassy slope directly above the tarn and attack the ridge from its low point. This route joins the alternate line at waypoint “LEAVE RIDGE.”
To descend back to the tarn, follow your ascent route back to waypoint “LEAVE RIDGE” and then take the easier route down the grassy slopes. Descend from here down the ascent gully until you can regain the Booth Lake trail, a short distance below the lake.
Dave Cooper is the author of “Colorado Scrambles: A Guide to 50 Select Climbs in Colorado’s Mountains.”
The details
Getting to the trailhead: Go west on Interstate 70 to the East Vail exit (Exit 180). Head west 0.85 miles to the Booth Falls Road. Turn right and follow this road for 0.2 miles to the trailhead parking area.
Hike statistics
To Falls: 1,200 feet elevation gain in 1.8 miles.
To Booth Lake: 3,000 feet elevation gain in 4 miles.
To West Partner Peak: 4,600 feet elevation gain in 5.3 miles.
USGS quad: Vail East, CO
