Cherry Creek trailheads question

[Nighthawk]

I'm thinking about a trip to the West Fork of Cherry Creek in the first half of August. I know it won't be flowing much, if at all, but I've always wanted to visit this area.
Can anyone tell me about the differences between Bourland Meadows vs Box Springs as a trailhead?

If we chose Box Springs, I think we would go to Chain Lakes first and then head toward the creek unless we got a late start. Then a day hike to Hyatt one day and creek exploration another.
If we chose Bourland, we'd head directly to the creek and then explore north one day and south another.

Specifically:
Is the descent to the creek easier or easier to find on one vs the other? I'm going to have young kids with me, but we're experienced with off-trail travel in the Sierra. Ideally a difficulty level like the descent to Waterhouse Lake would be what I'm looking for.
Is the scenery or choice of camping spots better in one section or the other?
Is the road better/shorter to either one?

Does anyone have any camping spots or swimming holes they'd recommend? We will likely hike in and make a base camp to do daytrips from, but hiking deeper is a possibility.
Thanks!

[balzaccom]

We've done both, and I can't say that I have a preference. The route from Bourland to Hyatt Lake deserves a little attention, as it can be tricky, but PM me if you want the details. The granite is impressive in this area....

Chain Lakes are pleasant --no fish-- and that trail is quite easy.

We have not done the hike between Chain Lakes and Hyatt, but I think Hyatt is somehow a more interesting destination.

[murphtron]

Bourland has more immediate options going N or S down the West Fork. Doesn't require the ascent to Hyatt. The ascent to the saddle is straightforward. The contour to Hyatt... well... I haven't perfected that yet. It can be tough due to brush and cliffy joints.

Chain Lakes - it's easy the main lake is nice if unspectacular. The descent via the old Studhorse Meadow route is straightforward if a bit confusing with many ducked routes (this intel is from 10 years ago or more). But Piute Creek is not the West Fork and merely a means to ascend the saddle east of Studhorse to Louse Canyon/W Fork where there is a route to climb to Hyatt. This route is 'easier' than Bourland but that's only because I haven't figured out a non-hellish way from the Bourland route to Hyatt from the saddle.

[looks easy from here]

I don't know about Bourland or beyond Chain Lakes but I've been to Chain Lakes out of Box Spring before. The last few miles of road are very rough and take me about 45 minutes to drive. It's about the limit of what I'd take my CRV on. But it's probably not so bad if you have a Jeep or an Xterra or something similarly capable. The trail to Chain Lakes is pleasant, short and super easy-my son hiked it when he was 3 years old-and there are lots of good campsites around the lake. murphtron's description of "nice if unspectacular" is pretty much bang on for the parts I've been to.

[tillich]

I'd love to hear your tips on getting from Bourland Meadow trailhead to Hyatt Lake. I'm heading there next month. I've been into Cherry Creek Canyon from Shingle Springs, but never from Bourland or Box Springs.

[swimjam]

Here's a pretty easy route from west fork cherry creek to Hyatt lk, the route goes through a cliff section near the lake. The climb to saddle, east of cherry ridge, is almost pure granite. Sorry, I can't help you on the bourland to cherry creek bit.
By the way, I hiked from Hyatt to chain lakes

, a direct route, and do not recommend it, There is lots of brush and many blowdowns. Chain lakes is swampy and not spectacular. I kept moving through the chain... not worth camping there. Hyatt is worth camping at.

[murphtron]

Hmm… maybe my post was deleted? Or I never hit send?

Anyway, sadly the route from Bourland to Hyatt has been on Alltrails since 2018. Many more people use this route now. It’s still a great route, but not as remote as it once was.

The AT track is pretty good, and the comment from Zach Hoffman on Alltrails provides the best intel. Just search for Hyatt Lake. The main difference from @swimjams route is crossing the Hyatt outlet to the south and walking up the ridge. It’s much better than the north side of the outlet which is brushy and marshy.

[Wandering Daisy]

How is the crossing of the WF Cherry Creek? The crossing farther upstream (to get to Roseco Lake) is very difficult early season.

[looks easy from here]

How is the crossing of the WF Cherry Creek? The crossing farther upstream (to get to Roseco Lake) is very difficult early season.

Report from last weekend:

A friend and I did an overnight from Crabtree Trailhead to Hyatt Lake in Emigrant Wilderness this weekend. We followed the Crabtree Trail to Groundhog Meadow, then hopped on the Bell Meadow Trail to West Fork Cherry Creek, and then the usual use trail to Hyatt Lake past Rosasco Lake.

Lots of water out there. Two crossings are note-worthy. Piute Creek on the Bell Meadow Trail is waist deep (I am 6'4") and slow moving. West Fork Cherry Creek at Bell Meadow Trail is fast moving and scary. We spent an hour finding a series of log crossings where it braids out south of Bell Meadow Trail.

[murphtron]

Just did the Bourland to West Fork route. Last time I was in the area was 2019. The route is the same. Except it’s as if a bomb went off in the middle forested section. And there was a fire on the top of the ridge. Both of these obscure large swaths of the “trail”. Pair that with a lot of brush and the route is much tricker than prior to 2019. Not undoable by any means. But it’s not as fast of a hike. If you’ve never done it, expect navigation to be a lot of trial and error bushwhacking through downed trees and brush. Bonus: no other cars at trailhead this week.