Hiking in Crested Butte, A Sunrise Hike on the Lupine Trail

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So you’ve planned a summer trip to Crested Butte in Colorado and you’re looking for a good hike to start the trip off. Well, the nice thing about Crested Butte is there are a few hikes right in town that are great for getting acclimated to the elevation while still enjoying the mountains. One of these hikes is the Lupine Trail. Late June through early July this trail will be covered with Wildflowers and in the fall you’ll get to see some fall colors as there are Aspen trees on part of this hike.

I decided to hike it at sunrise to get some good photos and avoid any crowds, but this trail would also be great to do mid day and even in the afternoon-evening time. With that being said, in this post I’ll be going over where to park, trail details, what to expect, and recommended hiking gear.

How to get to the trail and where should we park

To get to the Trailhead you’re going to drive on Gothic Road and then take a left onto County Road 734. Park at the Slate River Trailhead. The parking area is small, but If you arrive early or later in the day, you shouldn’t run into any problems.

Please Note, because this is an out and back trailhead, do not park off Saddle Ridge Ranch Road to start the hike. This is a private neighborhood and this trailhead start should only be accessed via Mountain Bike!

Is this a difficult hike

I would say this is actually a great hike if you are looking for something on the easier to intermediate side. The trail itself isn’t too technical and the elevation gain didn’t feel too strenuous, plenty of areas to take a break if needed. I listed a few trail details below.

Trail Type: Out and Back

Elevation Gain: 1,594 feet

Distance: 5.8 Miles

Dogs Allowed: Yes, but must be on leash

Download the trail ahead of time via All Trails for help with navigation

Best time of the summer for seeing Wildflowers

I visited the second week of July starting on the 8th and the flowers were in full bloom, but I feel like I caught the end of it. For this trail I think a week earlier or even the last week of June will be the best time to see the wildflowers in the summer.

What is the Trail Like

You’ll start off on a series of switchbacks that overlooks Nicholson Lake. This is an awesome area for photography, especially in the evening! What I also liked about the very beginning of the hike is you kind of feel like you’re in a valley with surrounding Mountains. Mount Emmons will be to your left with Peeler Peak off in the Distance.

Once you pass Nicholson Lake, the trail will start to flatten out and you will be surrounded by fields of Aspen Sunflowers until you reach a wooded area of Aspen Trees. The lighting in the early morning through these trees is amazing fyi. As you exit the Aspen Trees you’ll get some more views of Slate River and the town. If you continue all the way to the end of the trail it will essentially be more fields until you turn around and hike back.

What should We Expect

The first thing to expect is the high possibility of there being more then just hikers on the trail! You might run into horse back riders and Mountain Bikers as this is a popular bike trail. More on biking later in this post. There also isn’t really any shade other then the small part through Aspen trees, so make sure to wear sunscreen. Lastly since this hike is close to town, easy to get to, and not too difficult, expect it to be more crowded during weekends and the 4th of July holiday!

Can you Mountain Bike on this Trail

Yep, this is a great beginner to intermediate Mountain Biking trail! There will be bike rental shops in town as well as up on Mount Crested Butte. I rented a demo bike from the Alpineer off 6th street towards the beginning of downtown. I recommend leaving your car parked in town and then biking to the opposite end of where you actually start the hike (Saddle Ridge Townhomes). This way the climb won’t be as bad and the second half is going to be a better downhill ride then if you were to start at the Slate River Trailhead.

Since the trail isn’t a long bike ride you can keep going and down the road there will be the Gunsight Bridge Trail that you can bike as well.

Recommended Hiking Gear

I made a quick list below for things I would recommend having on this hike!

• Water Bottle- I really like Hydro flask as the water bottles will keep fluids cold for up to 12 hours

• Small Bag- Carry your water bottle, camera, or snacks with a small backpack. Burton makes some of the best backpacks for the outdoors in my opinion

• Lightweight Clothing- Stay away from cotton!, Patagonia, Fjallraven, REI, and Vuori all make great lightweight apparel for hiking

• Hiking Footwear- Since this trail isn’t too rocky, hiking boots aren’t a requirement, but I would say at least have good trail shoes. Stop into your local outdoor store or visit REI.com for good footwear options

• Rain Jacket- Thunderstorms can pop up in the mountains, never leave home without a rain jacket!

Looking for other hiking trails in Crested Butte? Check out the Snodgrass Trail, also not far from town with lots of wildflowers and some pretty epic views. As always thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post.

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.