Best Late Fall Hikes in Colorado
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Top of Shrine Pass in Colorado
Fall is honestly one of the best seasons in Colorado. Prices decrease and crowds die down heading into shoulder season for resorts. As temps start to drop, Mountain addicts begin to get excited for the snow to fly. There’s a lot of trails in Colorado and it can be hard to know which ones are worth the hike, although you probably can’t go wrong with any of them. I found hiking a great way to just clear the mind while getting your body into shape outside of the gym. The Rockies offer incredible views and some of the most beautiful terrain. A great app with reviews, mileage, and difficulty that you can download on your phone is All Trails, or stop by your local visitor center for advice and a Colorado Hiking Guide. A few of my favorite hikes are located 1.5-2 hours from Denver and make for a great day outside. My parents were in town and we decided to hike Shrine Pass, Game Creek Trail in Minturn, and our favorite Black Powder Pass in Breckenridge.
Shrine Ridge Trail is in between Copper and Vail off of I-70. You take exit 190 at the top of Vail Pass. And then turn onto Shrine Pass Road. The trailhead is going to be the first parking lot you come across on your left. The route is about 4.3 miles round trip and I would rate it as a moderate hike. The views are worth it the whole way. At the top you have 360 degree views of different mountain ranges including the Gore Range, Copper Mountain, Mount of the Holy Cross, and Ptarmigan Pass.
Hence the name, Shrine Ridge Trail
The Game Creek Trailhead starts in Minturn, a small town west of Vail. The trail follows along a creek and towards the middle of the hike, you get amazing views of the backside of Vail Mountain. As you hike down, the trail opens up and you get this awesome view of Meadow Mountain, as you see in the photo on the right below. Side note, If you notice that some of the pictures are smokey it’s because we’ve had one of the worst summers for wildfires in Colorado history. In the winter, the trail is part of a side country run called the Minturn Mile. The hike has some steeper parts but flattens out mid-way. Daylight was burning so we didn’t make it too the top. After the hike, a good spot for food and a beer is Backcountry Wings. Minturn is a cool rustic mountain town and I recommend checking it out.
One of my favorite hikes that I’ve done in Colorado is Black Powder pass. Head south through Breckenridge and take a left onto Boreas Pass Road. Or if you’re coming through Blue River it will be your first right as you enter Breckenridge. You’ll start to hit a dirt road at the top. The road is bumpy and narrow so I’d take it slow. You’re going to pass a red tank on your left, called Bakers tank. Keep driving for about another 15-20 minutes until you see an old railroad crossing and brown house, which is a Backcountry Hut in the winter. You are now at the top of the Continental Divide for what use to be the highest narrow-gauge railroad. This hike is pretty moderate, 3.4 miles roundtrip, and includes views of the the ten mile range, Bald mountain, and Boreas Mountain. It’s amazing.. At the peak you can see down into South Park valley near Fairplay.
Gods Country
We were able to catch the sunset on the Ten Mile range as we were hiking down and it was breathtaking. Before you leave town if your looking for a place to grab a meal and a drink I would recommend Relish, Twist or Blue River Bistro.
Can’t beat a sunset on the Ten Mile range
Gear Used
Make sure to always pack a jacket with the elevation changes and temperatures that drop once the sun starts to go down. I really like the Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket. This lightweight 800 fill down jacket packs into its left pocket and keeps you warm. Also make sure you have the proper hiking footwear and outdoor clothing. I really like the Adidas Terrex Free hiker hiking boots. For those who dislike the bulky traditional hiking boots, these are perfect. Fjallraven makes amazing outdoor clothing for hikes, travel, and adventures. When it comes to being outdoors you want clothing that is lightweight, durable, breathable, and water resistant or waterproof. I always bring a backpack on a hike to keep snacks, a water bottle, and additional clothing that might be needed. My favorite backpack is Burton’s Tinder 2.0 30L bag. It has place on the outside of the bag for your water bottle, a laptop sleeve, and plenty of compartments for storing items. Burton makes the best luggage and bags in the business, I highly recommend.
Fjallraven High Coast Hike Trousers 10/10
Adidas Terrex Free hiker are like sneakers for hiking
