Fee Entry Station
Parking area for Brainard lake access in winter.
The Brainard Gateway Trailhead is the entry point to Brainard Lake Recreation Area. Located two miles east of Brainard Lake, the Brainard Gateway Trailhead area features a large parking area, warming hut, bathrooms, fee station, and self service fee area and a seasonal gate.
During the summer season, the seasonal gate is open and the fee stations are operational to pay the daily fee, present passes and receive information.
During the winter season, the seasonal gate is closed. Park here for year round access to the Sourdough and South Saint Vrain as well as snowshoe and ski access to the Waldrop, CMC, Snowshoe and Little Raven trails. It is approximately two miles from this parking area to Brainard Lake.
During winter, dogs are only allowed on the Sourdough Trail (located outside the Brainard Lake Recreation Area), Brainard Lake Road, and Lefthand Park Reservoir Road. For current information on road openings and closures, check the Road Status Table by accessing the link below for road status.