Carbondale, Colorado
Top Spots in and near Carbondale
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Leadville, Colorado
Ski Hut-to-Hut from Uncle Bud's to Skinner Hut
5.024.5 mi / 4700 ft gainThe trek starts just outside of Leadville near Turquoise Lake at 9800 ft. The first day you'll travel 6.5 miles and gain 1700 ft. to Uncle Bud's Hut, which sits around 11,400 ft. The second day you'll ski 7.1 miles to Skinner Hut and gain 2100 ft, mostly in the last 3 miles after having dropped...Read more -
Vail, Colorado
Ski the Minturn Mile
The Minturn Mile is best accessed after spending the day at Vail, but can be done so with skins and skis from the base. This description will assume you have access to the lifts at Vail by parking at one of the many resort/town parking areas. From either the top of Game Creek Express or Wildwoo...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Mountain Bike the Colorado Trail near Mount Elbert
This is the way to see fall colors if you're into empty trails and endorphins. Grind up the trail starting from South Elbert Trailhead. You'll turn right onto the Colorado Trail at .3 miles and stay here for as long as you like, or 7.3 miles to the Mount Elbert Trailhead. Turn around and go back ...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Ski or Snowshoe to Vance's Cabin
3.1 mi / 750 ft gainVance's Cabin is a private hut near Tennessee Pass booked by the 10th mountain division. The hut was completed in 1988 and sleeps 16; 6 beds upstairs in a loft and 10 bunk beds downstairs in a communal bunked area around the wood stove. It's a compact cabin compared to some of the other huts in...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Fly Fish Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is a beautiful lake (or could it be called a pond?), set in the shadow of the Rocky Mountain’s highest peaks, Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, can be found about six miles south of Leadville, CO on the west side of US 24. This lake holds a healthy trout population and is stocked regularly...Read more -
Cedaredge, Colorado
Run the Crag Crest Loop
4.310.4 mi / 1500 ft gainThe Crag Crest Trail is a 10-mile loop that takes runners over one of the highest points on Grand Mesa. When traveling in a clockwise direction, the trail traverses a narrow rocky ridge for 5-miles before descending into the dense pine forest below. Grand Mesa's trails are less maintained due to ...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Hope Pass via Willis Gulch
5.08.75 mi / 3297 ft gainHope Pass is accessed from the Willis Gulch trailhead about 25 miles outside of Leadville, Colorado. To get to the trail head, follow Highway 24 East for about 16 miles until you arrive at the junction for Highway 82. Turn right and follow Highway 82 for about 8.3 miles. You will see a sign on th...Read more -
Meeker, Colorado
Backpacking Lost Lake
This is an intermediate trip involving leave no trace camping practices, 5.5-6miles of approach with approximately 1500ft of climbing before dropping some 800 feet into the valley that holds West Lost Lake.The draw of the West Lost Lakes area is that it is a relatively easy approach to undisturbe...Read more -
Leadville, Colorado
Overnight at the Emma and Marceline Yurts, Leadville
11 mi / 1200 ft gainDrive past the main downtown of Leadville and then head into the mountains south of town, following Mt. Sherman Road to the Yurt parking along a ridge before you come to the Black Cloud Mine. There are signs that say "Yurt Parking". Follow the road a little further down to a jeep road just before...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Summit Mount Huron
6 mi / 3500 ft gainThere are some dispersed campsites along side the 4x4 road that leads to the trailhead. Ideally you can sleep here to get an early start to your hike in the morning, to avoid the afternoon storms that frequent the mountains. The 4x4 is rough in spots, though my Subaru Outback did make the trek un...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Camp at Mt. Elbert Forebay Reservoir
5.0At the base of Mt. Elbert there are three campgrounds. One is a National Forest campground - you have to pay for a spot and it is closed from October-May. The other two are first-come, first-serve free campground areas. As you drive past the south trailhead, right before the reservoir, there is a...Read more -
Buena Vista, Colorado
Mount Elbert via the Southeast Ridge Trailhead (Winter Route)
13.48 mi / 4885 ft gainClassic Route to the Summit of Colorado's highest peak Great for All Seasons this is the Recommended Winter Route with minimal Avalanche Danger. Known as the South Mount Elbert trail, the East Ridge trail or a combo of both, this trail is truly beautiful and remote. DIRECTIONS: To reach the t...Read more -
Vail, Colorado
Ice Climb Pumphouse Falls in Vail
To get to Pumphouse Falls take Interstate 70 toward East Vail, Colorado, get off at exit 176 S. Frontage Road headed east. At the traffic circle take the third exit and continue on South Frontage Rd. for 2.5 miles, turn right into the small parking lot next to the Nordic ski track. Follow the sig...Read more