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The elevation gain, together with the round trip distance of 18 miles
makes this a strenuous day hike. The lower portion of the trail is sometimes
incorrectly referred to as the "Scott Gomer Trail" because of its location
along Scott Gomer Creek, named for an early logger in the valley. This
trail, in combination with the Threemile and Rosalie Trails, offers some
interesting extended hikes through other portions of the Mt. Evans
Wilderness.
The first half of the Abyss Lake Trail heads in a northeasterly direction
up the Scott Gomer Creek drainage. Shortly after the first crossing of the
Scott Gomer Creek, Mt. Bierstadt will come into view ahead and on your left.
After the third crossing of Scott Gomer Creek you will reach a trail
junction with the Rosalie Trail. Here the Abyss Lake Trail joins the Rosalie
Trail and turns to the northwest. For the next short distance you will be on
both the Abyss Lake and Rosalie Trails. At the next junction, the Rosalie
Trail continues up to Guanella Pass, and the Abyss Lake Trail bears right
across several small streams, then begins a series of fairly steep
switchbacks, bearing again in a northeasterly direction. The trail leaves
the trees and enters thick willows just to the southwest of the small lake
labeled as "11730" on the quad map.
After leaving the lake, you will continue up the valley through the
willows until you cross the Lake Fork stream draining out of Abyss Lake.
From this point the trail begins to head in a more westerly direction across
the tundra. Abyss Lake Trail terminates at Abyss Lake.
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