This four-mile section of the trail has a minimum altitude of 9846, maximum altitude of 10,452 (trailhead is at 10,040’), with a total ascent of about 1200 feet. Hiking the Kenosha Pass Trail. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! The trail out of Kenosha is fairly easy and definitely scenic. Kenosha Pass is well-known for its thick, colorful stands of aspen in the fall. Lodgepole Campground is a creekside destination with incredible Colorado mountain views. Kenosha Pass Out-and-Back RECOMMENDED ROUTE. Aspen Campground is an excellent place for campers looking to relax, hike, fish and enjoy the sounds of nature. The effect is just jaw-dropping. ", aspen groves, creek, wildflowers, mountain range views, views of South Park, wildlife: moose, Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, photography, snowshoeing, camping. ! It runs adjacent to the Kenosha Pass and Kenosha East Campgrounds. And since the surface is not very technical, it’s easy on the feet as well. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Notes: If you can grab a parking spot at Kenosha Pass (go early! The initial trail segment enters with a gradual ascent into the aspens, then at 1/2 a mile into the hike the woods opens up to incredible views into South Park. Two Hiking Options and Where the Trails Begin. Once you hit mile four, you’ll start to climb again as the trail aims towards Jefferson Hill and the mountains behind it. Kenosha Pass is an easy hike that can accommodate all levels of hikers. Autumn days in Aspen are filled with sunshine and nights with crisp cool air. because you are above 10,000'. Kenosha Pass North is a 5.9 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Jefferson, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Thanks! Watch the mountains and valleys turn gold with the changing Aspen trees. Join our Community. The Colorado Trail is divided into 33 segments which includes a choice of two routes in the middle, Collegiate East and Collegiate West.See the map on our maps page for a quick look at the segments.. Of course, hikers can continue on the trail all the way back into Denver, but that requires a multi-day backpacking trip. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Restrooms can be found on both trailheads. Meet your guides on the west side of Highway 285, next to the Kenosha Pass Campground. If you’re out for a day hike, this is a good place to turn around. Stick to the Colorado Trail, go out as far as you'd like in either direction. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. The campground s... Overview The Colorado trail at Kenosha Pass is a mainstay for fall foliage hiking as the aspen groves to the south of Hwy 285 and leading up to the Twin Cone Peaks is one of the finest in the front range. From Long Gulch, drive over Kenosha Pass and turn left onto Lost Park Road. Please explore responsibly! If you’ve only ever driven through Kenosha Pass, I recommend that you park your car and stay awhile. Get the Hiking Guide and our Trail Dispatch for hiking tips and new trails. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Kenosha Pass provides access to the Colorado Trail as it heads southeast towards the Lost Creek Wilderness and west towards the Continetal Divide and Jefferson Lake. The north trail is accessed at 35th Street and 28th Avenue and heads north to the Racine / Kenosha County line. You have to pay to get in (~$7), but it is a lot less crowded on weekends. The abundance of aspens at ... Overview End Trailhead (Kenosha Pass): From Morrison, take US285 for 45 miles to reach Kenosha Pass. Geologically, the pass is located atop a large granite batholith (known as the Kenosha Batholith) that forms the spine of the Front Range along the eastern side of South Park. Dogs are also able to use this trail … If the snow b... Boreas Pass is a scenic route that lies between Como (north of Fairplay on Hwy 285) and Breckenridge. Peepers tend to stay on the top part of the pass, I personally like going to the Jefferson Lake area and starting from there. Shuttle Ride: It takes about one hour to drive from Breckenridge to Kenosha Pass. Best to get an early start if possible, as this trail took us much longer than we thought it would. The trail continues on both sides of Hwy 285, but this article is about the segment east of the highway. Enjoy!! Hi everyone, I"m trying to get to Kenosha Pass this Saturday from out of town. Because this is the Colorado Trail, it does continue west, offering multi-day backpacking options that lead all the way to Durango, Colorado. With the leaves gone you can see for miles, and the evergreens are emphasized. This trail offers stunning fall foliage, spectacular long-range views, and a chance to experience part of the famed Colorado Trail. The white on white of aspen bark on snow is magical in its own way. The trail gently drops to the valley floor and weaves through an aspen-forested section of South Park. Between these stands, you’ll catch glimpses of Mount Evans and many other mountains to the north. Near: Bailey. The Colorado Trail (http://www.coloradotrail.org) is 500 miles long and stretches from Denver to Durango. Amazing Views, but start in a different spot. Take in the scenery while enjoying scenic drives, hiking through forests, road biking, and exploring our IMBA Gold Level Ride Center recognized mountain bike trails. Colorado Trail: Wellington Lake Road to Kenosha Pass. The Trailhead is located just before the 2nd parking area, and will be located on the right (south). We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. Stay on the Colorado Trail and you'll come to the backside of that pass. This is a great place to turn-around, making it into a 3 mile out-ant-back hike. Do you think it'd be too late to see the aspens if I did this hike tomorrow? Kenosha Pass South CO Trail Segment 5, Pike National Forest. Explore the full Kenosha Pass hike profile below for trail map, driving directions, and more tips and details to help you enjoy this Colorado hike. Parking can get tight in the Autumn when the aspens are at their peak, so be considerate of others and the land as you park your vehicle. It's a beautiful area. You'll briefly review snowshoeing techniques and learn important tips about hiking in the winter. Approximate elevation gain: … I cannot wait to go back and photograph this! The Kenosha Pass Trail is on Part of the Colorado Trail About 1 Hour and 30 Minutes West of Denver and It's a Great Place to Snowshoe in the Winter. The trail starts up the gully and shortly after intersects with the CT. Sadly, these are not soft-baked, double-chocolate chunk cookies. ), you can spend many miles hiking on the Colorado Trail in the glow of the yellow aspens. Colorado Trail segment 6 on Trailsnet. Segments of the CT. © Copyright 2010-2020 Dayhikes Near Denver LLC, We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Drive another 11 miles until you reach the trailhead at Forest Rd 817. The Colorado Trail starts outside of Denver and ends in Durango. Over three miles you get about 400 feet elevation gain. Geographicaly they begin to the northwest at "Platosha", the informaly named pass traversed by the Ben Tyler Trail, and end to the southeast in the vicinity of Wellington Lake. During peak leaf season (late September-early October), the trailhead at Kenosha pass is packed with leaf-peepers. This is at about mile 17.1 of the 32.9 mile trail. The trail begins just off of Hwy 285 at Kenosha Pass campground. Sadly, I was too late to see the fall foliage this year, and judging by all the bare stands of aspens, I really missed out! The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. 285. Length 5.9 miElevation gain 1017 ftRoute type Out & back It starts off with a tough climb that makes almost everyone gasp for air while mumbling 'Wow, I'm feeling the altitude!' ... Kenosha pass is fabulous!! Overview The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Bathrooms are … Description Starting at the parking area at the top of Kenosha Pass, the Colorado Trail, heading towards Breckenridge, is one of Colorado's most popular high altitude trails. This segment is a fast-moving trail because it’s so easy. Perhaps the most-traveled portion of the Colorado Trail is at Kenosha Pass. The hiking trails at Kenosha Pass easy to moderate in difficulty and can be done by hikers of all experience levels. The views from Kenosha are amazing, especially when you're looking out over South Park. From Bailey, continue driving approximately 19 miles on 285 to the Kenosha Pass Trailhead. After this viewpoint, the trail travels a short distance uphill, then makes its way down toward Guernsey Creek. The trail then narrows into singletrack and opens up into a high alpine meadow with incredible views: mountain ranges off in the distance to the southwest, 13ers just over to the west and northwest. This creates an East side trail option and an West side trail option. There's a large parking lot right at the top of Kenosha Pass on 285. The trail offers a number of activity options. Kenosha Pass to Lost Creek Wilderness is a 29.1 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Jefferson, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Both offer incredible views down into the South Park plains of Colorado and out to the often snow-capped peaks of the Mosquito Range. There's a large parking lot right at the top of Kenosha Pass on 285. Kenosha Pass. There is additional parking on the East side after crossing a cattle gate. This is a great place for taking pictures, but don’t stop here. South Park is a high mountains plains area that stretches out mile-upon-mile to its western and norther mountain borders, the Collegiate Peaks and the Mosquito Range of the Rocky Mountains. If they were, we would rename this website "paradise. Most of the altitude gain is on the return trip. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Located in the US, the ATV trails in Colorado offers over fifty ATV trail routes from which to choose. This is about four or five miles west of Kenosha Pass, hiking toward Georgia Pass & Mount Guyot. Intermediate. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. As always, keep eyes peeled for changing weather, and pack the 10 Essentials. The Timberline Campground, near Kenosha Pass, is about 7 miles southwest of the small town of Grant. Hikers can pick up the Colorado Trail after crossing the cattle gate (if parked along 285) and hiking along the dirt road that leads to the restrooms that are near the 2nd parking area (after the cattle gate). It's hard to find 30+ miles of singletrack which leaves you wishing there was more at the rides end. You'll ride the Colorado Trail west or on the right side if you're headed south on 285. This is definitely on my “must go back” list for next fall. We hiked with our kids (all under age 7) for about an hour (approx. Kenosha Pass is a wonderful fall hike the huge aspen trees tower above the trail in golden colors. (Photo / Ray Bowden) The Colorado Trail Foundation Kenosha Pass Starting at 10,000′ the initial elevation gain on the trails make for easy to moderately strenuous hikes, all depending on how far one decides to travel on these beautiful segments of the Colorado Trail. I went about 4 miles out and back, for a total of 8 miles. Kenosha Pass is an easy hike that can accommodate all levels of hikers. As for wildlife, moose are often spotted on this side along the lake near the trailhead. There is camping available although the spots have always been full when I was there. The vast majority of these people park their cars, jump out to take a few pictures, and drive off again. If you are wondering what should be in your daypack, be sure to download our free Dayhike Hiking and Packing Guide. Trails Kenosha Pass: The Most Epic Ride You’ve Never Heard Of By Corey Maddocks September 23, 2011 While technically part of the Colorado Trail, the section from CO Highway 285 to Georgia Pass is commonly referred to simply as the Kenosha Pass Trail, and is … The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. It’s about a 90 minute drive from Denver. Because it begins at about 10,000 feet, altitude could be an issue for some. Depending on the snowpack and drifts on the unplowed road, you could hike as few as 5 miles round trip or as many as 10. I recently hiked the portion of the Colorado Trail west of Hwy. The trail consists of approximately 14 miles of limestone path. Because the trail is unending, you can hike as little or as much as you want. It is traversed by US 285 between Jefferson and Grant, and provides a route between the valley of the North Fork South … After a gentle climb for about a mile through aspen and pine forest, the views begin to open up. Immediately you’re immersed in a thick stand of tall aspen trees. I love this hike and have done it twice now in two years, both in peak season. You'll ride the Colorado Trail west or on the right side if you're headed south on 285. (Oct. 9th). Besides the last .1 miles, Long Gulch TH should be accessible to all vehicles but does travel on dirt roads. From there, the trail leads through pine and aspen forest for about 2 miles until it emerges at the edge of an enormous valley overlooking South Park and Fairplay. If you drive down the dirt road on the east side of the highway, you’ll come to another parking lot with bathrooms. I have always gone late Late September or Early October and have never been disappointed that is for sure. The rules of thumb: About one week after the Fremont Pass SNOTEL registers zero inches of snowpack, the high points along the north half of the CT (including in Segments 6, 7 and 8) become passable. Hiking in the summer and leaf peeping in the fall. Hiking Bierstadt, Evans, and The Sawtooth. The pass is located in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, just northeast of the town of Fairplay, Colorado. I'm trying to gain a sense of when the update was posted (stating that she missed out on the foliage viewing). About 3 miles out is about as far as a typical day-hiker goes; at that point, the views open up to a spectacular 270-degree view of the aspen-covered mountains. This item: Tarryall Mountains, Kenosha Pass (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map (105)) by National Geographic Maps Map $14.95 Only 18 left in stock (more on … The Colorado Trail takes you across Highway 285, about 20 miles north of Fairplay. Because this section of the trail is so easy, you can go a little further than you normally would—and with such endless beauty around you, why not? This is a fantastic section of trail. Fremont Pass is centrally located on the CT north of U.S. Highway 50 and Red Mountain Pass is centrally located on the CT south of Highway 50. The eastern route will take you through wooded sections that can be a bit less windy. Snow shoe in the winter! Kenosha Pass is probably the best place to view the changing aspens near Denver. The surrounding peaks to the south and west are part of the Mosquito Range. because you are above 10,000ft. Colorado Trail: Kenosha Pass to Georgia Pass (Up to 11.8 miles one-way): Moderate The perfect Fall hike with a lake. Bike Trail Tour. This trail is also a great snowshoe/xc ski route in the winter. So expect to see another few weeks of amazing views here this year! The photos tell you what words can’t. If you continue on, you will pass through several stunning stands of golden leaves. (had to leave a star review despite not having been... but i fully believe it will be a 5/5). Depending on weather, you will follow the Colorado Trail to the east or west. The trailhead parking area is located on both East (left when coming from Denver) and West (right side when coming from Denver) of 285. This one is obvious, but if you’re new to the state, it might not be (and, if we didn’t … Parking: Parking is available on either side of US Highway 285. adventures and follow local regulations. Walk down the road leading to the Kenosha Pass Campground for a few paces and look for the Colorado Trail Segment 6 Trailhead, start there. The best views—and photographs—are along the hiking trail. I was here on 9/25/16 and while much of the forest, trail, and vistas were peaking bright yellow, there was also a good amount of green left. 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