Scarp Ridge

Though I moved from Colorado a couple of years ago, I return there every summer to visit friends and explore the wilderness.  Last month I did some hikes in the Crested Butte area that were all new to me, even though I lived not from from there (with only the Raggeds Wilderness separating us).

On my first day back, my buddy chose as an acclimation hike the trail from Lake Irwin to Scarp Ridge and a "peak" (it shows up on few maps, so maybe it's more of a point than a peak) called Oh Be Joyful at 12,400 feet above sea level.

From this point, hikers are rewarded with 360-degree views, which were partially marred by smoke from the west's many wildfires when we were there.  Still, I got some photos worth sharing:

looking east from Scarp Ridge

looking north from Oh Be Joyful

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.

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).

Kebler Pass

West of Crested Butte, east of the Paonia Dam and Reservoir, and south of the Redstone/Marble area of Colorado is Kebler Pass.  Numerous trails (e.g. Three Lakes, Beckwith Pass, Dark Canyon, Ruby Anthracite) have their trailheads on this dirt road that is closed in winter due to the high elevation of the pass.

East and West Beckwith Mountains (seen above) dominate the landscape for much of the road west of Kebler pass.  The large aspen groves make the area very popular in autumn, with cars stopped every few hundred yards to photograph the incredible colors.