Trail Run Project Logo

Challenging singletrack from Ute Pass to Crystal Creek Reservoir.


Your Rating: Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites: Add To-Do · Your List
Zoom in to see details
Map Key

2.8

Miles

4.6

KM

76%

Runnable

9,325' 2,842 m

High

7,908' 2,410 m

Low

1,534' 467 m

Up

170' 52 m

Down

11%

Avg Grade (7°)

32%

Max Grade (18°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek

Description

Parking: There is very limited parking along Mountain Road, it's best to park along Chipita Park Road and run to the trailhead.

The trail starts at a significant grade 1000ft/mile) for about 1 mile. Intense switchbacks; some loose gravel, but not nearly as bad as some other trails in the pikes peak region; plenty of stairs. Overall, this section is very well built and maintained. Around the mile mark, the trail gains a ridge and intersects with the Crow Gulch Trail; take a right at the T.

From here, the trail traverses the Mount Ester ridgeline, undulating through meadows and aspen groves. Follow signs for "Ring the Peak Trail", it is well-marked. There is a half-mile section that runs along a power-line service road, very unpleasant. Note, the final small section of the trail will either terminate on a service road or along the Crystal Trail depending on which social trail you take; if you find yourself on the service road, take a right, run for a quarter mile, and reconnect with the crystal trail on your right.

Overall, this trail is challenging and steep for the first mile. The subsequent miles are very beautiful, but less well maintained and certainly less trafficked. I recommend this as a connector to Crystal Trail or to Catamount Trail (Green Mountain Falls) most of the year. It is probably worth the trip in and of itself in the fall when the aspens are turning colors.

Contacts

Shared By:

Chris Fa with improvements by K Keiter

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 2 votes

#13111

Overall
  4.0 from 2 votes
5 Star
0%
4 Star
100%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1,196

in Colorado

#13,111

Overall
3 Views Last Month
546 Since Jun 22, 2020
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
0%
50%
50%
0%

Photos

Rampart Range
Sep 21, 2020 near Cascade…, CO
View down into Crow Gulch with fall colors
Sep 21, 2020 near Cascade…, CO
View of Crystal Peak.
Sep 21, 2020 near Cascade…, CO
View toward Waldo Canyon Burn Scar
Sep 21, 2020 near Cascade…, CO
The Turning of Fall Colors Near Crystal Reservoir
Sep 21, 2020 near Cascade…, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Unknown
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

none

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.