Hiking Apparel Stores Denver CO

Activities: Hiking, Snowshoeing

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Length: One-Way: 8.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 8200 feet
Maximum Elevation: 8960 feet
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Difficulty: Moderate
Usage: Moderate

Description: The Hankins Pass Trail is the southernmost trail in the Lost Creek Wilderness. From the east, the trail gives the hiker a gradually rising climb up Hankins Gulch through dense forest to pleasant open meadows and aspen groves. From the junction with the Lake Park Trail at the top of Hankins Pass, the trail drops down the west side of the Tarryall Mountains to a junction with the Lizard Rock Trail coming up from the Spruce grove Trailhead and then continues to descend to meet the Brookside-McCurdy Trail. The trail is easy to follow and heads in a general westerly direction. There are horse corrals near the Goose Creek Trailhead that are available for public use. There are a number of campsites between the trailhead and Hankins Pass. However, there are few areas suitable for camping west of the pass due to the steep gradient of the trail. Because the trail is entirely in designated wilderness, Wilderness regulations apply. From the Goose Creek Trailhead, hike downhill to a footbridge across Hankins Gulch. Just across the creek the Hankins Pass Trail heads west, while the Goose Creek Trail goes east (right). Climbing at first up through a forested valley, the trail eventually reaches a series of open meadows surrounded by aspen groves. The trail from here to the pass is very gorgeous in late September when the aspen leaves are changing color. At the top of Hankins Pass is a junction with the Lake Park Trail. That trail heads north (right) toward Lake Park, while the Hankins Pass Trail begins it’s descent to the west. The grade on the west side of the pass is quite a bit steeper than the gradual rise up to the pass from the east. After a short descent, the trail reaches the wilderness boundary and the junction with the Lizard Rock Trail. The Lizard Rock Trail leads south to the Spruce Grove Campground, while the Hankins Pass Trail continues down in a northwesterly direction to its end at the junction with the Brookside-McCurdy Trail. If you head south from this junction on Brookside-McCurdy Trail you will reach the Twin Eagles Trailhead.

Activities: Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Gunnison National Forest
Length: One-Way: 3.5 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9600 feet
Maximum Elevation: 12100 feet
Elevation Change: 2450 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Usage: Lighth

Description: The Cataract Lake Trail (# 475) is a direct path to Cataract Lake. The trail begins at the Cataract Gulch Trailhead, which is about 0.5 miles west of the Sherman townsite on County Road 18X. You should expect to wade through Cottonwood Creek to begin this hike. After this creek crossing, the trail climbs into Cataract Gulch. The trails switchbacks climb the gulch quickly. After Hiking for about one mile, hikers will now be following the comparatively gentle grade following Cataract Creek. The Cataract Lake Trail follows and crosses Cataract Creek for the next two miles. During this portion of the hike, the trail ascends moderately to 12,000 feet. The trail enters Cataract Basin, an area of high alpine tundra below the Continental Divide. There are three lakes in this basin with the largest sitting under the highest point on the ridge. The Cataract Lake Trail is popular with motorcyclist and horseback riders. This area also provides good opportunities for dispersed camping.

Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Length: One-Way: 8 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 10000 feet
Maximum Elevation: 12000 feet
Best Season: Summer, Fall
Usage: Moderate

Description: The Rich Creek Trail provides access into the Buffalo Creek Wilderness Area. Mountain bikes and mechanized equipment are not allowed. This is a great trail for planning a backpacking outing. Following Rich Creek to Buffalo Meadows and returning via the Rough and Tumbling Creek Trail is an excellent 11 mile loop. Side trips to Buffalo Peaks and nearby fishing becomes a single track (#618, Salt Creek Trail) to its intersection with the Tumbling Creek Trail (#617). In general, the terrain around Buffalo Peaks is only moderately rugged. Cross-country travel off the trails is not difficult, even to the tops of the peaks.

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Length: One-Way: 7.1 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 9000 feet
Maximum Elevation: 11775 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy

Description: Devil’s Thumb Trail crosses gently sloping terrain interspersed with steep stretches of trail. Along the way, it passes through forest, riparian woodland and sunny, rocky slopes. If you choose to skip driving through the water and park on the Fourth of July Road, take the quarter mile long Columbine Trail which starts at the bottom of the first hill, just before the water. It is a recently constructed trail that bypasses the flooded part of the road and comes in at the Hessie Townsite. From the Townsite, the road continues rough and with large mud puddles another quarter mile to the Hessie Trailhead. There is very little parking at the trailhead itself. From the trailhead, cross the footbridge and take the Devil’s Thumb Trail, which climbs steeply for about a half-mile on an old road. The Devil’s Thumb Bypass turns right in 0.8 miles, just before the bridge. Either the Devil’s Thumb Trail or the Devil’s Thumb Bypass will get you to the same destination – the distance is about the same either way. The bypass trail crosses open meadows to the north of the creek. The main trail follows an old road along the south side of the creek, staying right past the junctions with the Lost Lake Trail, King Lake Trail and Woodland Lake Trail. It is 1.1 miles from the trailhead to the Lost Lake Trail junction, which is right at the top of a hill. From there it is a flat 1/4 mile to the King Lake Trail junction. The Devil’s Thumb Trail enters the Indian Peaks Wilderness just beyond the King Lake Trail junction. It continues fairly level another 1.0 miles to the Woodland Lake Trail junction. In places, the creek has taken over the trail, so hikers have to follow social paths along the bank. The Devil’s Thumb Bypass rejoins 200 yards beyond the Woodland Lake Trail. After the trails rejoin, the old road begins to climb again. This stretch can be very wet, especially early in the summer, so some bypass social trails have developed. In 1.5 miles, the Diamond Lake Trail forks right (north). It leads 3.7 miles up over the ridge past Diamond Lake to connect to the Arapaho Pass Trail 1.2 miles from the trailhead. From the Diamond Lake Trail junction it is another 0.6 miles to Jasper Lake. Jasper Lake is surrounded on three sides with trees and a steep ridgeline to the north. It is a very popular camping area with limited, designated sites. There is no bridge across the spillway, but there is often a plank across a hundred yards downstream. The trail continues another mile over a small ridge, north of a pond and up a slope to Devil’s Thumb Lake. It lies directly below the vertically-walled Devil’s Thumb. Past Devil’s Thumb Lake, Devil’s Thumb Trail wanders across open meadows near treeline, then makes several switchbacks up the steep side of a ridge to reach the Continental Divide. This steep portion of the trail holds snow and ice well into the summer and can be treacherous – crampons may be useful. The Devil’s Thumb Trail does not actually intersect the High Lonesome Trail (part of the Continental Divide Trail) which is a couple hundred yards down the far side of the ridge and not heavily traveled. From the top of the ridge it is another 0.6 miles downhill to the right (north) to Devil’s Thumb Pass or 3 miles to the left (south) to the King Lake Trail. It is not difficult to eventually pick up the High Lonesome Trail from the Devil’s Thumb Trail by just following the ridge, but finding the Devil’s Thumb Trail from the High Lonesome Trail is more difficult. Note that the Devil’s Thumb Trail does not climb to Devil’s Thumb Pass (which has a snowfield most of the year), but ascends the ridge to the south. There is a large cairn where it tops out, just south of the high point at the ridge intersection. To access Devil’s Thumb from 4th of July Trailhead, follow the Arapaho Pass Trail for 1.2 miles, take the Diamond Lake Trail 3.7 miles more past Diamond Lake and over the ridge to hit the Devil’s Thumb Trail 0.6 miles east of Jasper Lake. Turn right (west)

Activities: Hiking

Info:
State: Colorado
Location: Pike & San Isabel National Forests
Length: One-Way: 13 miles
Trail type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 6720 feet
Maximum Elevation: 14110 feet
Best Season: Spring to Fall
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Usage: Light

Description: The Barr Trail, named after its builder, Fred Barr was constructed from 1914 to 1921. The trail passes through three ecological life zones, Montane, Spruce-fir and alpine. Wildlife species common to those zones are frequently observed. Pikes Peak has been a landmark since before recorded history. It was named for Zebulon Pike who described the Peak in 1806 while exploring in the area to the south. The first recorded climb to the summit was in 1820 by Dr. Edwin James of the Stephen H. Long Expedition. At present, over 60,000 visitors per year are estimated to climb the peak on the Barr Trail. The trail is rated more difficult because of its long sustained grade rising to an especially high elevation. Although an average hiker might complete the round trip in about 16 hours, those persons not used to Hiking, especially at these altitudes, should not attempt the round trip in one day. Because of the long sustained grade, even a one way downhill hike from the summit is very tiring to the legs and feet when not conditioned. Temperatures at the summit may be as much as 40 degrees cooler than at the bottom. Afternoon thunderstorms are common throughout the summer and snow or sleet may be encountered throughout the year.