American Basin Trail

American Basin is the wildflower basin above Lake City, a bowl at 11,600 feet below Handies Peak where columbine, paintbrush, and larkspur grow waist-high in the second half of July. The trail is the first stretch of the Handies Peak route, climbing 1,500 feet in 2.5 miles to Sloan Lake in the upper basin, and it is the best short hike in the San Juans for people who want the flowers without the summit.

From the American Basin trailhead at the end of the road, the trail crosses the basin floor through the flower meadows, with the creek beside it and the walls of the basin closing in. After about a mile it begins to climb, switchbacking up a headwall of talus and tundra with a waterfall on the left, and the flowers give way to alpine cushion plants.

At about 2.5 miles the trail reaches Sloan Lake at roughly 12,900 feet, a cold tarn in a rock bowl below the ridge of Handies; the listing's 12,200-foot high point is the meadow bench below the lake where many people turn around. Handies Peak's trail continues past the lake to the saddle and the summit, another 1,100 feet and about 1.5 miles. Return the same way.

From Lake City, take Cinnamon Pass Road (County Road 30) south past Lake San Cristobal about 20 miles, then turn left on the American Basin road for the last mile to the trailhead at about 11,300 feet. Passenger cars reach the American Basin turnoff when the road is dry; the last mile is rough and rocky and high-clearance vehicles do better, though careful drivers in cars manage it slowly. The lot holds about 30 vehicles and fills by 7 AM in wildflower season. No fee or permit.

Dogs are allowed and should be leashed in the flower meadows; the trail is in the Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area. The distance and the altitude are why this is not marked kid-friendly, though the basin floor is an easy walk for any child. The trailhead is above 11,000 feet, so sleep in Lake City first. Stay on the trail through the meadows; the flowers are what everyone came for and they do not survive shortcuts. Dispersed camping is allowed along Cinnamon Pass Road, and Mill Creek campground is lower down. The Handies Peak guide covers the summit, and the Lake City hikes page lists the Alpine Loop trails.