Lake Doris via Rockbound Trail from the Twin Lakes Trailhead(edit)

Overview

This is a long one-way trail to Lake Doris in Eldorado National Forest.

This trail goes by Maud Lake. After Maud Lake there's a long ascent to Rockbound Pass

Getting Started

Park at the Twin Lakes trailhead at the east end of Wrights Lake. If the parking is full, part at the overflow parking just north of the horse camp, walk across the open area across the creak into the campground. Exit the campground and walk along the road to the parking area. Walk down to the trailhead at the inlet Creek to Wrights Lake.

The trail passes some meadows and then climbs up a ridge where it meets the other trail from the Rockbound parking lot on the west side of Wrights Lake. It continues west with a branch to Gertrude Lake.
crosses a seasonal creek (good until early fall) and then veers north, ascends to a ridge, before descending into the Jones Fork drainage. There's a seasonal pool at the summit, good until mid-fall. The trail ascends past Willow Flat and then to Maud Lake. After Maud Lake, it's a hard (but not rough) slog up to Rockbound Pass. The trail descends to Lake Doris through an area the looks like a Japanese tea garden. The creeklets in the garden run even until late fall.

But watch for snow. It lingers in this northeast-facing bowl and the area may be covered even when the west side of the pass is dry. Look at the historical Google Earth imagery to see the late-season snow on the northeast side.

Taking Children

It's a long hike with a long uphill stretch to Rockbound Pass. Some dropoffs, but no chasms or precipices.