Recreation
area. To get there, turn west from Peak-To-Peak Highway at the sign to
Brainard Lake Recreation Area, just North of the town of Ward. A fee of
$5 per vehicle is charged. Long Lake trailhead is southwest of Brainard
Lake and well marked.
The distance from Long Lake Trailhead to Pawnee Peak is about 4.5 miles one way, the elevation gain is 2600 feet. Trail Map: Indian Peaks/Gold Hill (Trails Illustrated #105). I would classify this hike as moderate to strenous, the
round-trip
hiking time is around 6 hours. The Trail starts along the right (north)
side of Long Lake for about a mile and then climbs gradually for another
mile and a half or so to reach the east end of Lake Isabelle,which is a
very pretty spot that invites to a short rest which helps to get ready
for the steepest section of the hike. Pawnee Pass trail leads to the right,
soon crosses a small stream and starts climbing up a ridge but one can
also continue along the north side of 
Lake
Isabelle (Isabelle Glacier Trail) and then climb up the steep slope to
the north via a series of switchbacks to rejoin the main trail. Whichever
way one chooses, there are about 900 feet of elevation to gain over less
than a mile distance. The view back down from the last turn is very rewarding,
however. The trail then levels off entering an area of open 
tundra
and one can see Pawnee Pass
Trail winding up the steep slope to the northwest. Another 600 feet elevation
gain via six or eight (ten ? :-)) long switchbacks and one reaches the
wooden sign that marks Pawnee Pass at an elevation of 12550 feet on the
Continental Divide. Pawnee Pass trail continues from here down the west
side of the Continental Divide, loosing almost 800 feet elevation on the
first half mile down a steep rocky slope to reach Pawnee Lake. Pawnee Pass
Trail later joins Cascade Creek Trail leading to Crater Lake to the south
or descending to the west to Monarch Lake Trailhead which is accessible
from Higway 34 at the southwest end of Rocky Mountain National Park (distance
from Long Lake Trailhead about 12 miles). This would be a very nice alternative
to returning to Brainhard lake if one can arrange to be picked up at Monarch
lake. Another possibility is to take Buchanan Pass Trail to the North which
closes a loop back to the Brainhard Lake area. This hike (23 miles total
distance) can be done in two or three days. I have one of these variations
planned for this summer - stay 
tuned
:-).
There is no distinct trail that leads up to the summit of Pawnee Peak, situated to the north of the pass at an elevation of 12950 feet. One can follow along the steep drop-off at the west flank, offering excellent views along the Cascade - and
Buchanan Creek drainages to Grand Lake and Lake Grandby. Pawnee Peak has
a couple of small shelters at the summit and offers 360 degree views of
Shoshoni, Arikaree, Navaho, Apache Peaks, Mt. George and Lone Eagle Peak
to the south and west, and Mt. Toll, Paiute Peak and Mt. Audubon, Sawtooth
Mt. and Longs Pk. to the north. An alternative to returning to the car
via Pawnee Pass Trail is to scramble down the rocky north facing slope
of Pawnee Peak to Blue Lake (visible from the summit) and then returning
to Mitchell Lake trailhead from which it is a short hike south along the
road to Long Lake trailhead.
