Caribou Approach

Name: Caribou Approach
Rating: 2.7

2.7 ( 6 )

Navigate on-trail with our free app

Trail

2.0 mile 3.2 kilometer point to point
Ascent
Easy/Intermediate

Elevation

Ascent: 1,178' 359 m
Descent: -57' -17 m
High: 11,122' 3,390 m
Low: 9,945' 3,031 m

Grade

Avg Slope: 12% (7°)
Max Slope: 36% (20°)

Driving directions Take a virtual tour

Zoom in to see details

Map Key

To-Do's
Check-Ins

Trail shared by Sallie Hoefer

Avalanche risk for May 21, 2019: Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Full forecast for CAIC: Front Range Zone — Brought to you by CO Avalanche Information Center

Avy tweets from @CAICfrontrange

Navigate on-trail with our free app

Weather

Getting forecast...

Current ascent conditions

All Clear 61 days ago See History

Popular ski lines nearby

Baldy's Skirt

0.7 mi 1.1 km • -649 ft Descent • -197.82 m Descent

Singletrack Nederland, CO

( 1 )

Woodland Trees

0.5 mi 0.7 km • -594 ft Descent • -181.18 m Descent

Singletrack Nederland, CO

( 1 )

Skywalker Couloir

1.0 mi 1.6 km • -1,892 ft Descent • -576.6 m Descent

Singletrack Nederland, CO

( 4 )

Trudging up the ridge through wet spring snow. Way in the background, on the left side, sits a few of Boulder's foothills; Sanitas, Flagstaff, and Green Mountain.

Crater Lakes Couloir #4

0.3 mi 0.5 km • -402 ft Descent • -122.64 m Descent

Singletrack Winter Park, CO

( 1 )

In the James Peak Cirque with Sky Pilot and Shooting Star (mostly hidden) above.

Shooting Star Couloir

0.3 mi 0.4 km • -991 ft Descent • -301.99 m Descent

Singletrack Winter Park, CO

( 1 )

Skied this ascent?

Add details to help others plan their adventure.

“A casual approach to a low angle and playful slope with optional steeper glade lines.”

— Sallie Hoefer

GPX File

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Respect private property crossings.

Description

On a powder day, you'll need a 4WD car to access the top part of Caribou Road since the road is not plowed in the winter. Park alongside the road by the old mining structures, or at the end of the road.

The approach is mellow and flat for about 1.75 miles. Take the second fork in the trail, to the right. From the broken down cabins on the left, follow the trail to the right. Here you'll start your ascent up the base of the slope. This hike takes about 10 minutes and there should be a distinct skin track when no fresh snow has fallen. At the top of the knob, head right to the open meadow and choose your line.

This area is lap-able without backtracking on the approach. The slope is open and east facing, so prone to wind loading and fills in nice early season, but can lead to stability issues on steeper aspects.

Overall, this is a safe and playful slope that you can lap 3 - 4 times on a good day.

On the hike out, get ready to strap skins on, as the last section of the hike is a low-grade climb out to the parking lot.