After gaining 200-ft. in 0.5-miles the grade levels for the next mile. Continue 2 miles to a "T" intersection. Please be aware of and obey all trail closures during your ride.

Trailhead: Bear Lake, Wild Basin There are several options to get from one slope to the other. The trail is an ideal place to see all of nature’s color. Time: 4 to 5 days. Permits are required for Lost Creek Wilderness but they are self-serve at the trailhead. The grade abates a bit at 3.0 miles as the trail nears the creek, traveling through forest interspersed with pretty meadows. 6 Questions Answered Before This Weekend’s Event, 5 People You Don’t Want To Be At The Brewery, Mazevo Brings Healthy Mediterranean Food to Tennyson Street, This Week In Concerts – Wildermiss, Flash Mountain Flood, Nightwraith and More, 24 Things To Do in Real Life and Virtually This Week in Denver, A Non-Profit Partnership Unveils Replica of A Safe Outdoor Space For Denver’s Homeless, Denver Issues New Restrictions for Outdoor Mask Wearing and Group Gatherings, A Photography Exhibit Celebrates A Century of The Women’s Right to Vote With 100 Works From Women. It starts on Ditch Trail and connects to Capitol Creek Trail, Avalanche-Silver Creek Trail, Lead King Basin Jeep Trail, Geneva Lake Trail, Maroon-Snowmass Trail, West Snowmass Trail and ends on Capitol Creek Trail. It passes Summerland Park, Cascade Falls, Big Pool and Ptarmigan Creek before splitting off onto the Lake Nanita Trail. Reach at trail junction at 5.0 miles.

For more information, the Colorado Mountain Club has a complete guide to hiking the Colorado Trail. Reach the junction with the West Snowmass trail at 1.5-miles. Follow the trail as it climbs steeply, swings right (north) and then left (west) to reach the saddle (aka West Snowmass Pass) at the top of the ridge between Haystack Mountain and Mt. All Rights Reserved. Autumn morning view of Dallas Creek in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Along the way enjoy views of Snowmass Lake, Buckskin Pass, North Maroon Peak and Pyramid Peak. Accessed from the Maroon Creek trailhead, the loop travels 22 miles following the Maroon Snowmass Trail en route to Snowmass Lake, which sits below its namesake 14er. Near 4 miles, there's a great view of Snowmass Mountain up Bear Creek - 3. If you want to see Rocky Mountain National Park without all the crowds hike across the top of the Continental Divide between Estes Park and Grand Lake.

From the trailhead (see driving directions) the Maroon-Snowmass Trail ascends on moderate grades through aspen and mixed conifers, following the arc of the Snowmass Creek drainage as it heads southwest. We bear left at the junction, continuing the climb up the steep hillside.

The loop offers views of Mosquito Range, Collegiate Peaks, McCurdy Mountain, Bison Mountain, the Goose Creek drainage and forests of ponderosa and aspen.
Here the Nickelson Creek trail heads right. Beautiful rocky mountain scenery consisting of the iconic bell shaped peaks of the Maroon Bells, enchanting aspen forests, soaring lofty peaks, and wildflower meadow lands charm landscape photographers and tourists alike. This long but moderate trail follows East Maroon Creek to its origin just below the pass, and continues down the west side into Copper Basin and on to Gothic near Crested Butte.. Getting to Snowmass is easy and getting to the trailhead is even easier. Good views of Mt.

While camping isn’t allowed at the lakes there are 10 campsites spread out along the trail to spend a night or two.
Distance: 21 miles

11) for 3.4 miles to a “T” intersection. Backpackers should keep in mind that after crossing Snowmass Creek the West Snowmass Trail climbs 3,000-ft. in 4.5 miles to the saddle and then loses 1,750-ft. in 2.2 miles. This site uses cookies.