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A steep trail past a beautiful creek, lake, and alpine pass.


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Map Key

4.0

Miles

6.5

KM

67%

Runnable

12,317' 3,754 m

High

10,027' 3,056 m

Low

2,290' 698 m

Up

466' 142 m

Down

13%

Avg Grade (7°)

41%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

Runner Notes

This is a great run! The top is steep, but it's quite runnable.

Description

From the parking area, dive right in to beautiful fir forest. You'll find mushroom, lush green undergrowth, and stream braiding everywhere. The surface is pretty rocky and rooty, and even though it's not too steep, it's not that easy.

After a mile or so, you'll use an old mining road for a short period. After that you start hugging the creek more closely, which forms fascinating rock clefts with waterfalls. Near the lake, you'll take a bunch of very short switchbacks and then pop out on a bench with Fancy Lake. Soak in the views and consider turning around here if you're tired or the weather is bad.

Continuing on though, continue up the trail up MUCH steeper terrain up above tree line. The last bit of this trail has a groove carved into the alpine rock. There is an old mining sled at the bottom; imagine hauling that up and down this crazy steep slope, at 12,000+ feet, even in winter!

From the top of the pass, you can connect to the Missouri Lakes Trail #2003 and make a big loop, or turn around here.

Flora & Fauna

The fir forest here is unaffected (so far) from the pine beetle epidemic that's decimated other areas in Colorado. It's particularly nice forest.

Contacts

Shared By:

Nick Wilder

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 14 votes

#7308

Overall
  4.3 from 14 votes
5 Star
57%
4 Star
14%
3 Star
29%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#542

in Colorado

#7,308

Overall
4 Views Last Month
2,740 Since Dec 2, 2014
Difficult Difficult

0%
0%
15%
15%
62%
8%

Photos

Beautiful view of Fancy Lake
Dec 2, 2014 near Minturn, CO
Getting deep in the wilderness in September
Sep 20, 2020 near Avon, CO
An old miner's sled.  Imagine hauling rocks up and down this alpine scree field at 12,000'!
Dec 2, 2014 near Minturn, CO
Looking over the west side of Fancy Pass
Dec 2, 2014 near Avon, CO
Snow at the top of Fancy Pass on east side in early August 2019.
Aug 3, 2019 near Avon, CO
Snowy segments on Fancy Pass - Aug 6
Aug 7, 2017 near Minturn, CO

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Weather


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