Summit County Colorado Hiking

My last hiking experience is below, but we want to know about your experiences in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Please comment on what hikes are your favorite, why and information on how to get there so we can all share in your experience and possible enjoy it ourselves some day!!

A few friends and I decided to climb Mt. Sneffels this past Tuesday.  We left Monday night and drove six hours to the San Juan Range.  After getting to sleep under an amazing night sky for an hour or so, we got ourselves ready and started hiking around 4:00 am.  A little cold and windy, not to mention dark, we hurried up the side of the mountain in hopes of finding some solace from the elements.  We reached the saddle before the last push for the summit at the perfect time to see one of the best sunrises I’ve ever been fortunate to view.  After taking enough pictures to ensure that at least one would capture the beauty, we made our final push to the summit and enjoyed the rest of the sunrise at 14,150 ft.  The wind was much more persistent at the top, so we ate some food and drank some water, then proceeded to make our way down.  The sun peeked through the clouds and offered some warmth when we got back to the grassy areas, so we sat down and relaxed, occasionally looking back at what we had just climbed.  After a few minutes of relaxing in the grass and sun, we continued hiking and got back to the parking area.  We chuckled to ourselves as the hike, round trip, only took us four hours.  There’s nothing like seeing the sun come up on top of a mountain.  Anyone who wants to experience total freedom and is up for an unforgettable day, get a partner or two and challenge yourself physically and mentally to stand on top of the world.

How to get to this hike:

Take US 550 to Ouray. ¼ mile south of town, turn west onto Country Road (CR) 361 (2WD, Dirt) toward Yankee Boy Basin. Start measuring mileage from the start of this road. Your mileage may vary slightly, but the following list describes the turns and milestones:
– At 3 miles: The road has some shelf sections with exposure to the left.
– 4.7 miles: Stay right on CR 26.
– 5.3 miles: The road is cut into the cliffs like a “C” so there is rock hanging over the road.
– 6.1 miles: Stay right on CR 26 at the junction for Imogene Pass.
– 6.3 miles: Pass through the empty Sneffels townsite.
– 6.8 miles: Stay right and pass a Yankee Boy Basin info sign.
– 6.9 miles: Stay right onto the “853 1B” road. The remaining drive is 4WD and 2WD cars should park below this junction.
– 7.7 miles: Reach the lower “trailhead” where many people park. There is a restroom here.
Driving beyond this point requires 4WD
– 100 yards after the restroom parking area, pass a large rock and stay right at a junction.
– 8.2 miles: Stay right.
– 8.5 miles: The road gets much worse after this point and there’s a sign that recommends only 4WD, high-clearance, short-wheelbase.
– 4WD vehicles (short wheelbase, good clearance, 4WD low) can continue another mile to the signed, upper trailhead at 12,460’.

Kendrick Flor

Rocky Mountain Resort Management