Hessie Trailhead
Hessie Trailhead, off Fourth of July Road above Eldora near Nederland, is the main gateway to the southern Indian Peaks lakes. Parking is very limited, so take the free seasonal weekend shuttle from Nederland.
Outdoor Boulder › Destinations › Hessie Trailhead
The Forest Service calls Hessie extremely popular in summer, with limited parking only in designated spots along Fourth of July Road, where Boulder County fines violators $50 or tows them. On weekends and holidays from late May through mid-October, the free Boulder County Hessie Shuttle from Nederland is the recommended way in. No passes, reservations, or fares required.
Hessie Trailhead quick facts
- Access & parking
- Take the free seasonal shuttle. Parking at the trailhead is very limited: only designated spots along Fourth of July Road (County Road 111), between the signs, with violators fined $50 or towed. The Forest Service calls the trailhead extremely popular in summer with limited parking, and asks visitors to use the Boulder County Hessie Shuttle on summer and fall weekends and holidays.
- Shuttle
- Free, no passes, reservations, or fares. In 2026 it runs weekends and holidays from May 22 through October 11, picking up at Nederland High School (597 CO Highway 130): Fridays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The visitor bureau describes it as a short ride to the trailhead. Note the shuttle does not serve the separate Fourth of July Trailhead.
- Lakes reached
- The Hessie trails lead to Lost Lake (short and popular), Woodland Lake, Jasper Lake, King Lake, Diamond Lake, and Devils Thumb, plus the Continental Divide. The Forest Service lists access to the Devils Thumb, Lost Lake, King Lake, Woodland Lake, Continental Divide, and Diamond Lake trails.
- Distance range
- From a shorter round trip out to Lost Lake up to long full-day hikes to King Lake, Devils Thumb, and the Continental Divide. Neither the Forest Service nor Boulder County publishes official mileages here, so check the state COTREX trail map for distances before you go.
- Difficulty
- Ranges from moderate (Lost Lake) to strenuous, high-altitude full-day hikes for the divide lakes. This is subalpine and alpine terrain above roughly 9,000 feet.
- Dogs
- Allowed, but pets must be on a hand-held leash at all times (a Forest Service wilderness rule at this trailhead).
- Permits
- Day hiking needs no permit for individuals and small groups. Camping permits are required for all overnight trips June 1 through September 15, at $5 per group per trip. Organized groups need a permit for both camping and day hiking year round; day-hiking permits are free.
- Fee
- Free. No entrance or day-use fee at the trailhead, and the shuttle is free. The only cost is the $5 per-group overnight wilderness camping permit in season.
- Best season
- Summer into early fall, once the high country clears of snow. The shuttle season (late May through mid-October) brackets the accessible window; snow lingers on the higher lakes into early summer. In winter, the Forest Service says access is typically from the town of Eldora.
Hessie Trailhead at a glance
Hessie is the main jumping-off point for the southern Indian Peaks Wilderness, the string of alpine lakes and peaks west of Nederland. It sits off Fourth of July Road above the little town of Eldora. From here, trails climb along creeks and past waterfalls to a run of high lakes, from an easy family walk to Lost Lake up to long, strenuous days on the Continental Divide. It's one of the most popular trailheads in the range, and the Forest Service is blunt about it: extremely popular in summer, with limited parking.
Parking at Hessie, and why it's a problem
There's no big lot here. Parking is limited to designated pull-offs along Fourth of July Road (County Road 111), and Boulder County only allows it between the posted signs. Park outside them and you risk a $50 fine or a tow. On a summer weekend the road fills early, which is exactly why both the Forest Service and Boulder County steer visitors to the shuttle. The rough, rocky stretch of road past Eldora toward the Fourth of July Trailhead is a separate, higher route; the Hessie shuttle does not serve it.
The free Hessie Shuttle from Nederland
Boulder County runs a free seasonal Hessie Shuttle on weekends and holidays, and it's the easiest way to skip the parking scramble. In 2026 it operates May 22 through October 11, picking up at Nederland High School (597 CO Highway 130): Fridays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are no passes, reservations, or fares. The visitor bureau describes it as a short ride up to the trailhead. Schedules and pickup points can shift within a season, so check the Boulder County shuttle page before you go.
You can leave the car in Boulder entirely: RTD's NB bus route runs from downtown Boulder to Nederland, where you connect to the Hessie Shuttle. Ask the RTD driver to drop you at Nederland High School on shuttle days.
Lakes and trails from Hessie
The Forest Service lists access from Hessie to the Devils Thumb, Lost Lake, King Lake, Woodland Lake, Continental Divide, and Diamond Lake trails. Lost Lake is the short, popular one, a good pick with kids or for a half day. Push farther and the trails climb past Woodland Lake and Jasper Lake toward Devils Thumb, and split off to King Lake and Diamond Lake near the divide. Those upper lakes are long, high-altitude full-day hikes, so start early. We don't publish mileages we can't source; the state COTREX trail map has distances for each route.
Wilderness rules and permits
About a mile of trail west of the trailhead lies inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness, where wilderness rules apply. Dogs are welcome but must be on a hand-held leash at all times. Campfires are prohibited year round, group size is capped at 12 (people and livestock combined), and campsites must be at least 100 feet from water and trail. Day hiking needs no permit for individuals and small groups. Overnight camping requires a permit from June 1 through September 15, at $5 per group per trip. Organized groups need a permit for both camping and day hiking year round, and day-hiking permits are free.
Best season and winter access
Come in summer into early fall, once the high country melts out. The shuttle season, late May through mid-October, roughly tracks the accessible window, though snow can linger on the higher lakes well into early summer, so the upper trails come into shape later than Lost Lake. In winter, the Forest Service says access is typically from the town of Eldora rather than the summer trailhead. Whatever the month, this is alpine terrain: afternoon thunderstorms are common, so plan to be off exposed ground by early afternoon.
Nearby trails and guides
- Lost Lake from Hessie: the short, popular lake hike, and the best first outing from this trailhead.
- Nederland: the gateway town where the shuttle starts, with coffee, food, and gear.
- All hikes in Boulder: the full hiking hub, sorted by difficulty.
Recommended nearby
A few local spots we'd point a Hessie day toward, in and around Nederland.
[CLIENT SLOT: featured cafe in Nederland]
[One honest line: coffee or breakfast in Nederland before the shuttle.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured gear shop near Nederland]
[One honest line: last-minute layers, water, or bear-aware supplies.]
[CLIENT SLOT: featured restaurant or brewery in Nederland]
[One honest line: a meal or a pint back in town after the hike.]
Hessie Trailhead FAQ
How do you park at Hessie Trailhead?
With difficulty, which is why the Forest Service asks you to take the shuttle. Parking is limited to designated spots along Fourth of July Road (County Road 111), only between the signs. Boulder County warns that violators are fined $50 or towed. On summer and fall weekends and holidays, the free Hessie Shuttle from Nederland is the recommended way in.
Is there a shuttle to Hessie Trailhead?
Yes. Boulder County runs a free seasonal Hessie Shuttle on weekends and holidays. In 2026 it operates May 22 through October 11, picking up at Nederland High School: Fridays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. No passes, reservations, or fares are required. It does not serve the separate Fourth of July Trailhead.
What lakes can you hike to from Hessie Trailhead?
Hessie is the main gateway to the southern Indian Peaks lakes. The trails lead to Lost Lake, Woodland Lake, Jasper Lake, King Lake, Diamond Lake, and Devils Thumb, and on up to the Continental Divide. Lost Lake is the short, popular family option; the divide lakes are long, high-altitude full-day hikes.
Do you need a permit to hike at Hessie Trailhead?
Not for day hiking as an individual or small group. Camping permits are required for all overnight trips in the Indian Peaks Wilderness from June 1 through September 15, at $5 per group per trip. Organized groups need a permit for both camping and day hiking year round, and day-hiking permits are free.
Are dogs allowed at Hessie Trailhead?
Yes, but they must be on a hand-held leash at all times. That is a Forest Service wilderness rule for this trailhead, along with no campfires year round and a group-size limit of 12 people and livestock combined.
Sources
Facts on this page are drawn from these authoritative sources: