Beckwith Pass

Beckwith Mountain as seen from a meadow above Beckwith Pass

A pleasant hike near Kebler Pass is Beckwith Pass.  The trail passes through aspen groves and meadows of wildflowers, topping out with great views from the pass.  To the east is Beckwith Mountain (east and west), where the sharp eye can pick out waterfalls.

Though the trailhead is east of the Lost Lake Slough, it's possible to reach this trail from the Three Lakes trail too.  Take the road over Kebler Pass, west from Crested Butte or east from the Paonia Dam.

Avalanche Creek 2011

Thank goodness the trail stays north of the water, as it's running very high and fast this year.

Plenty of wildflowers abound, especially shooting stars.

 

The trailhead is at the end of the Avalanche Creek Road, on the east side of the USFS campground.  The road joins Highway 133 about ten miles south of Carbondale.

Avalanche Creek, in the Crystal River valley

I'm thinking I should hike up Avalanche Creek this week.  It's a great early-season hike because of its low elevation and good exposure to the sun.

The trailhead is about ten miles south of Carbondale, Colorado, and provides great access to the west side of the Snowmass-Maroon Bells wilderness area.  Hikers will find many wildflowers in the meadows and clearings.

The Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park

In between wilderness adventures, consider a raft trip down the Colorado River.  If you're an experienced kayaker or surfer, you might enjoy the waves at Glenwood's whitewater park.

The shots above were taken during a competition when the river was running well over 20,000 cubic feet per second - more than double the seasonal average.

The whitewater park is below the Midland Avenue bridge, next to the west Glenwood exit on I-70.

Horsethief Canyon SWA, Grand Junction, Colorado

Northwest of Grand Junction is the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area.  A half-dozen or so trailheads access many canyons to the north of the Colorado National Monument.

Devil's Canyon

This area is high desert, and travelers unaccustomed to this environment should bring plenty of water and pay attention to their route so they can find their way back.

Marble, Colorado

Marble, Colorado is an unsightly little town nestled in one of the most beautiful valleys you'll ever see.  Sandwiched between the Raggeds and Snowmass-Maroon Bells wilderness areas, and with Lead King Basin to the east, Marble is a great jumping-off point for many backcountry trips.

The Marble airstrip is quiet for all but a couple weekends a year.

Backpacking and day-hikes, horseback trips, and fishing are just a few of the many things you can do in the Crystal River valley around Marble.

Some of my favorite hikes in the area are Carbonate Creek, North Lost Creek, Geneva Lake, and Yule Creek.  Backpackers will want to hike into Lead King Basin, where there are many campsites, and the scenery is unparalleled.

The Chair Mountain Ranch has cabins you can rent for any length of time.  Dave and Linda are great hosts, and will do all they can to ensure you have a great stay.

Marble is about twenty five miles south of Carbondale.  Take Highway 133 south to Gunnison County Road 3 (affectionately known as "the Marble road").

Carbondale, Colorado

Enjoying the view from Mushroom Rock

Named by national magazines as a great sports town, Carbondale, Colorado is a fantastic little town nestled in the Rocky Mountains.  It's a half hour from Aspen, and within a short drive to several wilderness areas (Snowmass-Maroon Bells, Raggeds, Holy Cross, Flattops, Hunter-Frying Pan).  Many miles of bike paths; rivers that are great for fishing, kayaking, and rafting; plenty of horseback riding opportunities; nearby trails for hiking and mountain biking; and great restaurants, art galleries, and entertainment venues all make Carbondale a favorite for locals and visitors.

Carbondale is about a dozen miles south of I-70 on Highway 82.  Use the east exit in Glenwood Springs.  It's also about a half hour from Aspen, if you're inclined to visit there.

Lost Lake Slough and the Three Lakes Trail loop

Not far from Kebler Pass, at the base of the Beckwith Mountains, is Lost Lake Slough.  In addition to being a great car-camping area, it's the trailhead for the Three Lakes trail loop.  The loop is relatively easy and takes you past a great waterfall in addition to the lakes.

To reach Lost Lake Slough, take the Kebler Pass road west out of Crested Butte or east from the Paonia Reservoir.

The Ruby Anthracite Trail near Kebler Pass

A few miles west of Kebler Pass is the Ruby Anthracite trail.  Unlike most trails in the mountains, this one descends from the trailhead.  If you continue past the beaver ponds beneath Marcellina Mountain (pictured above), you'll drop into Dark Canyon via the Devil's Staircase.  If you have two vehicles, or don't mind hitch-hiking, you can hike all the way to Ericson Springs (or to Marble via Anthracite Pass).

Cathedral Lake near Aspen

The Castle Creek valley, south of Aspen, Colorado is host to several great trails.  One I'm eager to do again is Cathedral Lake.

The trail is moderately steep and rocky, but not difficult, and hikers are rewarded with great views on the way up and a spectacular scene at the top.  The above shot was taken in late summer, when the water levels were lower.  I'm eager to do this hike earlier in the season, along with its neighbor, American Lake.

The trailhead for Cathedral Lake is not too far past the ghost town of Ashcroft, on the right hand (south) side of the road.

Hanging Lake - the stills

See the videos and read my description of the hike here.

 

If you want to see Hanging Lake in winter, check out this entry.

Hanging Lake has its own exit from eastbound I-70 in Glenwood Canyon.  Westbound travelers need to overshoot it and turn around at Grizzly Creek. 

Hanging Lake - the videos

Hanging Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Colorado.  It's relatively short, about a mile and a quarter, easily accessed off I-70, close to Glenwood Springs, and very scenic.

I've hiked up there a half dozen or so times, including once in the middle of winter.  Yesterday's trip up was much fun as the spring melt-off is fueling the state's rivers and streams, and there are torrents of water everywhere.

At points the trail had more water than the stream normally does.  The crossing to the Dead Horse trail was out of the question.  Spouting Rock, above the lake, could have been called Gushing Rock.

Here are a few videos I shot: