Course Name: Venable Comanche Loop (Counter Clockwise)
Distance: 12.09 miles
Vertical Gain: 4000+ feet
Fishable Waterbody: Lower Venable Lake AND Comanche Lake
Course Description: Begin this popular loop at the upper parking lot at the Alvarado Trailhead. Frequently, this lot is full and you need to park below, but start your watch at the upper lot. Head north up the Venable Trail until you reach the Rainbow Trail, turn right on the Rainbow Trail for about a 100 yards and then turn left onto the Venable Trail. This trail climbs at a steep grade about 4 miles until you reach Lower Venable Lake, which is loaded with 8 to 14 inch cutthroat. Pick up a fish here and get back on the trail headed south and up the incredible Phantom Terrace, which is a narrow piece of trail with 1500 foot drops off to the east. Once you are at the top of Phantom Terrace, it is a mile run at around 12,700 feet elevation before you begin the descent into the Comanche drainage. You will have spectacular views of Comanche Lake and the Wet Mountain Valley from this perch. Once you reach Comanche Lake, catch another cutthroat trout (they can be bigger in this lake, but often harder to catch than in Lower Venable), and begin the descent down Comanche Trail. Loose rock and a steep grade make this a challenging last several miles. Once back at your vehicle, crack a cold one and celebrate your completion of this epic loop.
Fastest Known Fish
Flyathlete: Andrew Todd
Date: June 3rd, 2022
Time: 4 hours, 6 minutes, 26 seconds
Fish: 13 inch cutthroat trout (Lower Venable) AND 11 inch cutthroat (Comanche)
Beer: Cerebral Brewing Forever Awake (10.5% ABV)
Witnesses: Bee Girl
Distance: 12.09 miles
Vertical Gain: 4000+ feet
Fishable Waterbody: Lower Venable Lake AND Comanche Lake
Course Description: Begin this popular loop at the upper parking lot at the Alvarado Trailhead. Frequently, this lot is full and you need to park below, but start your watch at the upper lot. Head north up the Venable Trail until you reach the Rainbow Trail, turn right on the Rainbow Trail for about a 100 yards and then turn left onto the Venable Trail. This trail climbs at a steep grade about 4 miles until you reach Lower Venable Lake, which is loaded with 8 to 14 inch cutthroat. Pick up a fish here and get back on the trail headed south and up the incredible Phantom Terrace, which is a narrow piece of trail with 1500 foot drops off to the east. Once you are at the top of Phantom Terrace, it is a mile run at around 12,700 feet elevation before you begin the descent into the Comanche drainage. You will have spectacular views of Comanche Lake and the Wet Mountain Valley from this perch. Once you reach Comanche Lake, catch another cutthroat trout (they can be bigger in this lake, but often harder to catch than in Lower Venable), and begin the descent down Comanche Trail. Loose rock and a steep grade make this a challenging last several miles. Once back at your vehicle, crack a cold one and celebrate your completion of this epic loop.
Fastest Known Fish
Flyathlete: Andrew Todd
Date: June 3rd, 2022
Time: 4 hours, 6 minutes, 26 seconds
Fish: 13 inch cutthroat trout (Lower Venable) AND 11 inch cutthroat (Comanche)
Beer: Cerebral Brewing Forever Awake (10.5% ABV)
Witnesses: Bee Girl
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