Clover Creek Cut-off Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek

Up until the early 1990s, this was the main trail between the Clover Creek Trailhead and the Mountain Lakes Loop Trail #3727 on the rim above Lake Harriette. Then the Clover Creek Trail #3722 was realigned to pass closer to Clover Lake and a new junction with the Mountain Lakes Loop Trail #3727 was established 0.8 miles beyond Clover Lake. But the old trail was too good a short-cut and local runners continued to use it, keeping the tread visible and marked with cairns. In late 2017, the Forest Service relented, re-opened the cut-off, and installed a sign to mark the point where it departs from the Clover Creek Trail #3722, 2.3 miles in from the trailhead and 0.3 miles below Clover Lake.

This cut-off is the shortest way to the Aspen Butte Summit Route and Lake Harriette from the Clover Creek Trailhead. If you're heading from this trailhead to Lakes Eb and Zeb, then continue on the main Clover Creek Trail #3722 to its junction with the Mountain Lakes Loop Trail #3727 and follow that trail west and north down to the lakes.