Beginner Hikes in Colorado, Trekking the Monarch Pass Loop near Salida
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Looking to explore one of many Colorado Mountain Passes? With Colorado having numerous amazing mountain passes to drive along in the summer and fall, Monarch Pass is one you should add to the list. The top of Monarch Pass is actually right where the ski resort is, Monarch Mountain. A smaller mountain with a local vibe. In the summer there is a scenic gondola and also a few hiking/biking trails. If you’re staying in Salida, this is an awesome place to check out in my opinion as you’ll get the alpine mountain experience that you won’t get in Salida or BV.
Even better is if you are looking for an easier hike that isn’t too intense, because the Monarch Pass Loop is about as easy as it gets, with some incredible scenic views . With that being said, in this post I’ll be going over directions to the trail, where to park, and detailed trail info! Alright lets do this.
How to get to the trailhead and where to park
From Salida you will drive past Poncha Springs and take a right onto US-50W all the way to the top of the pass. As you are driving you will pass the ski resort on the right, keep driving until you see a large parking lot on the left! You are in the right parking lot if you see the Scenic Ride building and the Continental Divide Sign. The drive itself is about 22 miles and takes close to 30 minutes from downtown Salida.
Once parked, you will want to walk towards the end of the parking lot, away from the Monarch resort buildings, and across the street towards the large yellow 6% grade truck sign. There won’t be a trail sign, but you will see the trail.
Trail Stats
Distance - 3.2 miles
Elevation Gain - 488 feet
Trail Type - Loop
Dogs Allowed - Yes, but should be on leash
What are the Trail details and What to Expect
Although the trail is easy to navigate I found that downloading Alltrails on your smartphone ahead of time is a great way not to get lost. With that being said, Once you cross the street and find the yellow sign, you can go in either direction because the trail is a loop, but I liked going to the right. This part of the trail has some elevation gain! So be prepared for that. But once it levels off, the mountain views are pretty awesome.
This is also the part in the trail where it gets easier and starts to level off. As you loose sight of the mountain views, you enter the part of the hike surrounded by pine trees.
Eventually you’ll come across a dirt road, take a left and this road will take you to the top of the Old Monarch Pass continental Divide (11,375 Feet). You can see for miles from the top of this road and it’s also a great place to grab lunch and hang out for a bit, maybe grab a photo. The national forest that you see is going to be part of the Gunnison national forest!
Just remember to do your best to stay on trail. I saw some people venture up to a rock pile, and that is not going to be a part of this loop. Hike across the ridge line and just take in the scenery on this part of the loop.
The last part of this trail is going to be downhill through Alpine forests, not really any views until the very end. If you hiked this trail in the afternoon the view at the very end of the hike where you see the road, and mountains in the background, is breathtaking in my opinion.
Is there noise from the road
I read a few reviews on AllTrails that said the noise from the road was a negative about the hike. I would have to disagree. Only part of the hike is close to the highway, and you hardly even notice it the highway noise. It’s not that busy of a road either.
What to Pack
Depends on the time of year, but a few things that you should have with you on this trail are good hiking footwear/hiking socks (No Cotton!), a rain jacket, some kind of layer (even in the summer), and water/snacks. Hiking footwear can be found either at a local REI store, local outdoor gear shop, or online. Just keep in mind that you are in the mountains and weather shows up out of no where sometimes!
Lastly, don’t forget to apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before your hike. Because you are at a higher altitude the sun is more intense.
If you liked this hike, other hikes I really liked near Salida were, Waterdog Lakes & Tenderfoot Hill (Right in town). Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!
