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Gunnison Valley Hiking Trails

Trail Tips

* Always ride or hike with a friend. Carry extra water and clothing. Weather conditions can change quickly. Let a third party know of your plans: Cell phones don't always work in the mountains. Close gates behind you.

* Help preserve our fragile environment. Please stay on existing trails and carry bikes over muddy areas.

* Hikers have the right of way. Slow down or pull to the side of the trail until hikers pass. Stop for horses, pull your bike off the trail and speak to the rider so the horse knows you are a human. Ride slowly through livestock in a group.

* Cars must yield to bikers and hikers. Please drive slowly when passing especially on Brush Creek and Gothic Road.

This map is for basic trip planning and day hikes & rides. For extensive backcountry travel please consult a guide and carry a Lat. 40 or USGS topo map.

Gunnison Area

1. Hartman Rocks - Easy to moderate. 1-20 miles. West on Hwy. 50 for .5 miles, turn left on to CR 38 (Gold Basin Road), Travel 2.7 miles to the parking area on the right. There are dozens of trails marked with numbers. The higher the number, the farther out the trail goes. Site of the Rage in the Sage Mtn. bike race. Rest rooms at the parking area.

2. Neversink Trail - Easy. 1.6 miles. West on Hwy. 50 for 5 miles. The parking area is on the south side of the road. The trail runs along the north shore of the Gunnison River. This is a flat trail with plenty of flowers, fishing and bird watching.

Blue Mesa / Curecanti Recreation Area

3. Dillon Pinnacles - Easy. 2 miles. West on Hwy. 50 for 6 miles past the Elk Creek Visitor Center. The trailhead is on the right just before the bridge crossing. Great views of Blue Mesa and the Dillon Pinnacles, with signs along the way explaining the natural formation of the spires.

4. Coal Mesa Trail - Difficult. 10 miles. West on Hwy. 50 to the end of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, turn right on Hwy. 92 west for approx. 1 mile. Once across the dam, turn right on to Soap Creek Road #721 and go 9.2 miles to Soap Creek Campground. Park here and look for the trailhead at the south end of the campground. The trail climbs on the ridge for several miles before coming to Bonefish Peak (11,629').

5. Pine Creek - Moderate. 1 mile. West on Hwy. 50, past Blue Mesa, one mile past the junction with Hwy. 92. This trail descends along Pine Creek and then 232 stair steps down to the Morrow Point Reservoir below Blue Mesa Dam. Parts of this trail run along the historic Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad bed.

6. Curecanti Needle - Moderate to Difficult. 2.2 miles. West on Hwy. 50 to right turn on Hwy. 92 and go 5.7 miles to the trailhead. A steep descent from the rim of the Black Canyon. At the end of the trail is the Curecanti Needle, a 700+ foot geological spire.

Ohio Creek / Kebler Pass Area

7. Mill Castle - Difficult, hiking only. 15 miles. North on Hwy. 135 and turn left on Ohio Creek Road (730). Travel for approx. 10 miles to a left on Mill Creek Rd. (727). The trail begins at the end of this road on the north side and climbs above Mill Creek. Then the trail begins to climb steeply with switchbacks (go right at the intersection) and then to Storm Pass (12,450'). Return the same way or continue on for 5 or 6 miles to Lowline Trail. Turn right (south) and head 4-5 more miles to Mill Creek Road.

8. Beaver Ponds - Easy. 1/2 mile. Hwy. 135 north to left on Ohio Creek Road (730), approx. 22 miles, trailhead is on the left. This trail is excellent for families. The trail winds gently through a dense aspen forest to several ponds where there is public fishing access.

9. Dyke Trail - Moderate. 6.5 miles. From Crested Butte, travel west on Kebler Pass Road (CR-12) approx. 4.2 miles to a fork, bear right on to Lake Irwin Road (#826) and pass Lake Irwin and the campground on your right. Continue for about a quarter mile and park. The trailhead begins on the west side of this hilltop. You can return on the same trail, or for a loop bike ride return via Kebler Pass. This trail is a local favorite especially in the fall. Spectacular views and foliage.

10. Lost Lakes & Cliff Creek Trail. Easy to Moderate. 1-12 miles. From Crested Butte, head west on Kebler Pass Road (CR-12) and go over Kebler Pass. Continue for approx. 3.5 miles to Horse Ranch Park and Cliff Creek Trailhead. Cliff Creek Trail will take you to Beckwith Pass (on the saddle of East Beckwith Mtn.) Wondrous views of the Ruby Range and towards Gunnison Basin. On Kebler Pass Road, continue another 4 miles to Lost Lakes Road on your left. There is a very nice camping area with restrooms and short hikes around the lakes.

Taylor Canyon & Park

11. Doctor Park Trail - Difficult mountain biking. 8-16 miles. From Gunnison head north on Hwy. 135 and go right in Almont on to Taylor River Road. Continue for 5.5 miles to a left on Spring Creek Road (744) for approx. 9 miles and look for a caved in cabin on the right. Cross the creek and follow this dirt road for approx. 1.5 miles to a single track (424) on the right. This is classic high-speed descent through forests and meadows, which ends up back on Taylor River Road. Pick up your shuttle car or pedal back up Spring Creek Road.

12. Summerville Trail - Moderate hiking only. 12 miles. From Gunnison head north on Hwy. 135 to Almont and go right on Taylor River Road for approx. 10.5 miles to trailhead on the right. The trail starts in Summerville Creek, then ascends rapidly through an ancient lodgepole forest before reaching the tree line of Henry Mtn. (13,254'). The entire trail is located within the Fossil Ridge Wilderness area and has an elevation gain of more than 3,200 feet!

13. Henry Lake Trail - Difficult. 7.5 miles. From Gunnison, head north on Hwy 135 to Almont, go right on to Taylor River Road, travel approx 16 miles to Lottis Creek Campground. Begin hiking on the Lottis Creek Trail and the Henry Lake Trail will branch off in about 4.6 miles. The trail ascends rapidly to Henry Lake at 11,714'.

14. Fossil Ridge Trail - Moderate. 14 miles. From Gunnison head east on Hwy. 50 to Parlin and go left on CR-76 (Quartz Creek Road), continue for approx. 8 miles to Ohio City, turn left on to Gold Creek Road (771) and continue to the Gold Creek Campground. The trailhead is on the left side of the campground. This trail follows the Wilderness boundary, with several switchbacks in the beginning, then leveling out on the ridgeline. Access Boulder Lake and the Summerville Trail from this trail. Spectacular views of surrounding mountain ranges.

15. Mill Lake - Easy. 2.5 miles. From Gunnison, take Hwy 50 east to Parlin, turn left on to CR-76 (Quartz Creek Road) and proceed to Ohio City, turn left on to Gold Creek Road (771) and park near the Gold Creek Campground. Begin hiking on the Fossil Ridge Trail. The Mill Creek Trail will branch off within a mile and you will reach the lake in another 1.5 miles.

Crested Butte Area

16. Judd Falls - Easy. 4 miles. From Mt. Crested Butte head north on Gothic road and just after the town of Gothic, look for a parking area on the right. Begin hiking, approx. 2 miles to the falls. A very nice half day hike. Continue past the falls to Copper Creek and Copper Lake, which is a full day hike.

17. Snodgrass - Easy. 5 miles. Seasonally closed for grazing. From Mt. Crested Butte head north on Gothic Road and park at the trailhead just after leaving the paved road. Cross over the fence on the 'stile' and climb for a half-mile to reach the ridge where it levels out. Wondrous views of the valley and one of the best wildflower hikes around.

18. Oh-Be-Joyful - Easy. 5 miles. From Crested Butte head north on Gothic Road for only a tenth of a mile and go left on Slate River Road (734) and proceed 3.4 miles to the entrance road on the left. Park here and take off your socks and shoes! Cross the Slate River and begin hiking up the drainage. You'll hear the falls on your left. Plenty of wildlife and views as the valley opens up. If you're feeling strong, continue to the end of the valley, bear right and ascend to Daisy Pass.

19. Trail 401 - Difficult. 15 miles. From Mt. Crested Butte, head north on Gothic Road through Gothic and park on the road at either Rustler's Gulch or Emerald Lake. Begin biking or hiking north on Gothic Road and come to Schofield Pass. Look on the right for the 401 singletrack that meanders through a thick pine forest, continually climbing, and finally to alpine tundra. Make sure your brakes are working for the descent, which brings you back down to Rustler's Gulch. Incredible views down valley.

20. Trail 403 - Moderate. 7 miles. (Best done as a shuttle From Crested Butte head north on Gothic Road for 2.5 miles and turn left on Washington Gulch Road. Travel approx. 10 miles to the old mining town of Elkton. Just past the townsite on the right is a single track for 403. Notice the Painter Boy Mine camp. The trail climbs to the saddle between Gothic Mtn. and Baldy Mtn., then descends rapidly to Gothic Road near the campground. Be sure to be off the trail by early afternoon because of sudden thunderstorms.

Continental Divide

21. Agate Creek - Difficult. 22 miles. From Gunnison travel east on Hwy 50, drop off a car in Sargents (the small town just before Monarch Pass) and continue up the pass to the parking area on right at the top. Look for the trailhead on the east side of the parking lot. Climb on the Continental Divide trail for approx. 8 miles before coming to a sign on the right for Agate Creek Trail #484. Make sure there is air in your tires, as this becomes a serious rocky downhill. Eventually you will come out on Hwy 50, which you can ride 3 or 4 miles downhill to your shuttled car.