Colorado Hiking, a complete guide to Black Powder Pass Off Boreas Pass Road
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One of the best things about Colorado in the spring, summer, and fall is the hiking. What seems like endless amounts of trails through out the state, there’s always a new path to explore. I’ve always loved the history that the state has including old mining history and historic buildings that are still standing. One of my favorite hikes that I’ve done so far is Black Powder Pass, just outside of downtown Breckenridge.
The drive to the trailhead on Boreas Pass Road is one of the best parts, especially in the fall! In this post I’ll be going over directions to the trailhead, what the trail is like, best times of the year to hike, where to camp, and what to expect. Cool, letsss goooo.
What’s the story behind Black Powder Pass
Originally Boreas Pass was part of a railway that connected Breckenridge to Leadville crossing over the continental divide, seen at the trailhead. However by the late 1930’s with the decline of mining and the rise of cars and trucks, the railway became abandoned. It wasn’t until 1952, that a road was installed on Boreas Pass.
The group of small houses at the top called the Section house were built in 1881 and served as the housing for workers who maintained the section of the Boreas Pass Railway. Today the Section house is a hut for back country skiers, splitboarders, and people who snowshoe in the winter
How to get to the trailhead
Depending on what direction you are driving from you’ll want to turn onto Boreas Pass Road and take that all the way to the top until you hit a dirt road, with a parking lot on your left. The road overlooks the ski resort and town as you drive up. There’s a couple pull offs, so grab a few photos before you drive to the trail! (the drive and hike are great for photography).
This road is somewhat narrow, with steep drop offs, so drive carefully! AWD isn’t required, but it helps to have. As you start driving on the dirt road you’ll go around a couple corners before you come up on a group of Aspens, from there you’ll go past Bakers Tank (A Giant Red water Tank) all the way to the top until you come up on a parking lot with an old railroad track.
The dirt road gets a lil bumpy towards the top, so drive slower.. Below I’ve listed major areas including downtown Breckenridge with distances and times. The two major highways you can take to get to the trail are either I70 or 285 South.
Trailhead Coordinates: 39.410310, -105.968420
Denver- 2 hours/87 Miles/140 km
Boulder- 2 hours and 20 minutes/96 miles/154 km
Downtown Breckenridge- 35 minutes/9 miles/14 km
Vail- 1 hour and 20 minutes/46 miles/74 km
Colorado Springs- 2 hours and 20 minutes/103 miles/166 Km
What should we pack
Water Bottle- Stay hydrated, especially at high altitudes! I like Hydro Flask because they keep your water cold for up to 24 hours.
Hiking Boots- Make sure you have good support and grip when out hiking. Colorado trails can get rocky, therefore I recommend a good pair of hiking boots such as Merrell! If you don’t like boots, they also make great hiking footwear.
Sunscreen-If you’re outside in Colorado, especially at a higher elevation it’s important to protect your skin. I like Sun Bum, based out of California, because it is none greasy.
Sunglasses- Often overlooked, if you plan on hiking during the day at high altitudes, you must have sunglasses. I’ve always been a fan of Dragon shades because they are easy on the wallet and have great depth perception and clarity.
Hat- Always pack a hat when going for a hike!, I love Burton hats, especially the tech, lightweight ones.
Backpack- I always like to hike with a bag to keep my water bottle, camera, and snacks for the trek, maybe even a beer or two for the top :) Burton makes amazing outdoor bags, backed with a lifetime warranty!
Any tips for hiking Black Powder Pass
Be careful when driving to the trailhead as there are steep drop offs with no guardrail on the dirt road, AWD and vehicles with good tires is a plus.
Bring a rain jacket and extra layers, even in the summer!
Visit in the Fall, mid to late September is one of the best times to be on Boreas Pass Road
Avoid weekends if you can due to more vehicles and people
Summer is a great time to catch the Wildflowers
You are at a higher elevation (11,482 Feet) take it easy and drink plenty of water!
Thunderstorms can pop up in the afternoon, however if the weather looks good, later afternoons in the evening are one of the best times to be on this trail!
Trail Stats
Trail Type: Out and Back
Distance: 3.4 miles/5.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet/305 meters
Dogs: On leash
Trail Time: Depending on speed and how long you stay at the top 2-3 hours
Is there parking and restrooms at the trailhead
There are no restrooms at the top, however there are two smaller parking lots on both sides of the road. Both lots are pretty empty on weekdays in the afternoon.
When is the best time to hike this trail
The best time to hike this trail is Late Spring to Early fall. Due to snowfall, Boreas Pass Road will close after the first parking lot at the top. You can still access the cabins in the winter by booking the Section House.
The busiest time of the year will be on weekends during the Fall when the leaves are changing. A lot of people will come up from Denver or the front range area to check out the fall foliage (leaf peepers). Try to come up midweek if you can as the fall colors are one of the best times of the year to hike in Summit County. Summers are great because of the wildflowers and there are a lot off Boreas Pass Road mid summer.
My favorite time of day to hike this trail is in the late afternoon-early evening because you get really cool golden light surrounding the hike and the sun is also not as intense as a mid day hike.
What is the trail like and is the hike difficult
The trailhead will be at the base of the historic Section House and old railroad tracks at the top of the continental divide. The continental divide is the line that runs from Alaska to Mexico and on one side water drains into the pacific ocean and on the other side the Atlantic ocean. The trail itself is part of the White River National Forest, but as you look to the right when driving up towards the top, that is the Pike National Forest.
You’ll start your hike at the base of the Section House and is worth walking around and checking out! As you start hiking you’ll notice most of the trail is exposed with a couple of portions that walk through pine trees and dead tree stumps. The trail overall isn’t too strenuous and doesn’t take too much time either which is what I liked.
As you make your way towards the top, turn around and you’ll notice most of the ten mile range and next to it Mt Helen and Mt Quandary! It is one of the best views in the area in my opinion. Once above tree line, the trail itself is pretty straight to the top and you’ll be able to see Baldy Mountain to your left. Pack a lunch, snacks, or even a couple beers and enjoy the views at the peak.
At the peak you’ll also notice the backside of the mountain has views too, this portion overlooks the White River National Forest!
Is there camping in the area
Yep it is all dispersed camping (free), but with numbered camp sites. First come, first served and no public facilities. Pack out what you packed in and make sure to check weather and fire restrictions ahead of time.
Is the Boreas Pass Overlook worth checking out too
Yep, If you are in Breckenridge I highly recommend driving up to Boreas Pass road, and walking along the road. You can do this regardless of the time of year. Winter can be one of the best times to head up to Boreas Pass, as the town and surrounding peaks are covered in snow. Park in the first parking lot you arrive at and walk part of the road. In the fall walk along the road while checking out the fall colors or hang out and enjoy a sunset view over the ski resort.
That’s it for the Black Powder Pass Trail. If you’re vacationing in Breckenridge or even just passing through I highly recommend this hike! If you done this hike before or having any questions, leave a comment below. Looking for more information on outdoor trips, hikes, tips, and gear information, feel free to subscribe to our email list below! Thanks for reading the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.
Looking for other Colorado Hikes? Check out the Ptarmigan Lake trail, just outside of Buena Vista.
