Difficulty: Moderate
Total distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip.
Getting there: From either Breckenridge or Frisco, head north on Highway 9 towards I-70 (from Breck, you want to drive towards Frisco). Continue straight on Highway 9 past the on-ramp to I-70 East and enter the roundabout. Take the 3rd exit (a dirt road paralleling I-70 W) and follow the dirt road until you reach the parking lot for the Meadow Creek trailhead.
The hike: Starting from the Meadow Creek trailhead, hike up steep switchbacks through Aspen forest. Just over a half mile into the hike, the trail splits. Follow the marked path on the right towards Lily Pad Lake. After a short distance, you’ll cross a bridge and enter the Eagles Nest Wilderness area. Here, the trail still trends upwards, although it winds much more gently through Aspen and evergreen forests and open meadows before finally ending at the aptly named Lily Pad Lake.