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Start at the Colorado River Trailhead and circle around to the north and west for an easy uphill through the trees.


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Map Key

1.2

Miles

1.9

KM

Ascent

9,527' 2,904 m

High

9,013' 2,747 m

Low

523' 159 m

Up

9' 3 m

Down

8%

Avg Slope (5°)

29%

Max Slope (16°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Description

The first half of this route goes north on the Colorado River Trail from the Colorado River Trailhead off Trail Ridge Rd. (which is closed in the winter north of the turn for this trailhead). This is an easy, usually tracked-out, trail with snowshoers and cross-country skiers.

After just under a half mile, turn left onto the Red Mountain Trail, cross Opposition Creek, and begin the gradual climb up along the contours of the toe of Red Mountain.

The grade will begin to increase along this second half of the ascent and route finding can be tricky when there isn't a skin track. We used the Powder Project mobile app to keep us within the direction of the summer trail.

Near the endpoint, we talked with a ranger who had been further up toward Red Mountain. Not having a specific destination in mind, we followed his skin track up into a thin aspen grove and readied for the descent.

With that in mind, there are options to continue further up the hillside if conditions allow.

Contacts

Shared By:

Zander Göpfert

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#220

Overall
  4.0 from 1 vote
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Ascent Rankings

#59

in Colorado

#220

Overall
42 Views Last Month
1,436 Since Jan 3, 2017
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Photos

Three foot base feeling sufficiently soft at sunset.
Jan 10, 2017 near Grand Lake, CO
NYE tour at Red Mountain.
Jan 10, 2017 near Grand Lake, CO
Heading along through the fresh-fallen snow on the Red Mountain Trail.
Jan 10, 2017 near Grand Lake, CO
The final skin to the Colorado River Trailhead from our small Red Mountain loop.
Jan 10, 2017 near Grand Lake, CO
Getting sendy on some puffy, low-angle pillows below Red Mountain.
Jan 10, 2017 near Grand Lake, CO

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