Ascent to Upper Hidden Valley

3.2 ( 6 )

Trail

1.2 mile 1.9 kilometer point to point
Ascent
Easy/Intermediate

Elevation

Ascent: 1,071' 326 m
Descent: 0' 0 m
High: 10,492' 3,198 m
Low: 9,421' 2,871 m

Grade

Avg Slope: 17% (10°)
Max Slope: 44% (24°)

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Trail shared by Jeramiah Paylor

Avalanche risk for Jul 10, 2019: Unknown

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

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Current ascent conditions

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Popular ski lines nearby

Looking up the East face.

Banana Bowls

0.5 mi 0.9 km • -897 ft Descent • -273.34 m Descent

(17) Estes Park, CO

Nick finding the good stuff near the bottom of the terrain park. See that cliff to his (skier's) left? Stick close to it.

Mario Gully

0.3 mi 0.5 km • -398 ft Descent • -121.25 m Descent

(2) Estes Park, CO

Approaching the crux of Dragontail, Emerald Lake is far below.

Dragontail Couloir

0.5 mi 0.9 km • -1,633 ft Descent • -497.8 m Descent

(21) Grand Lake, CO

Getting closer to the bottom of Smoke and Dragons; here's one of the spots where you really need to stay left.

Dead Elk Couloir

0.5 mi 0.8 km • -1,726 ft Descent • -526.18 m Descent

(3) Grand Lake, CO

Looking up the East Couloir from the apron.

Tyndall Gorge Descent

1.2 mi 2.0 km • -1,736 ft Descent • -529.23 m Descent

(1) Estes Park, CO

Tyndall Glacier, from the top of the descent

Tyndall Glacier

0.2 mi 0.3 km • -300 ft Descent • -91.57 m Descent

(1) Estes Park, CO

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“A gentle skin to Trail Ridge Road”

— Jeramiah Paylor

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Description

This straightforward ascent route provides access to some of the more classic areas of Hidden Valley. From the parking area, cross the creek at the warming hut and follow it uphill into the trees. The best skinning stays to the left of the Columbine run, at the bottom of the hill. After you cross over the creek a couple of times, keep to the right. After about a mile of climbing and 1,100' of elevation gain, you'll arrive at Trail Ridge Road (10,500'). From here, either ski down the run you just ascended, or continue climbing to the top of Tombstone Ridge via any of the runs in the upper bowl.

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Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Rocky Mountain National Park

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Check-Ins

Mar 18, 2019

1.2mi

Feb 9, 2019

Skied down

Dec 16, 2018

nrj5011

Dec 9, 2018

Eric Internicola

Skinned with Mike. Pretty well traveled and plenty of people. Packed skin track. 1.2mi

May 6, 2018

David Willenbrink

Apr 21, 2018

Mar 10, 2018

Jan 2, 2017

Trail Ratings

3.2 from 6 votes

#2

in Hidden Valley

#260

Overall

3.2 from 6 votes

5 Star		0%
4 Star		33%
3 Star		50%
2 Star		17%
1 Star		0%

Ascent Rankings

#2

in Hidden Valley

#79

in Colorado

#260

6 Views Last Month

1,969 Since Mar 30, 2015

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Photos

Ascending Juniper. Photo by Ryan Case.

Ascending Juniper. Photo by Ryan Case.

Riding the Lower Portion of Aspen

Riding the Lower Portion of Aspen

The powder was deep and amazing on this day!

The powder was deep and amazing on this day!

Trail Ridge Road in Early February.

Trail Ridge Road in Early February.

Even with next to now snow (early December), the creek crossings are still manageable.

Even with next to now snow (early December), th…

Creek crossing in low-snow December.

Creek crossing in low-snow December.

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