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The standard route up Mt. Massive, this is an easier but longer run.


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Map Key

3.7

Miles

5.9

KM

56%

Runnable

14,400' 4,389 m

High

11,089' 3,380 m

Low

3,310' 1,009 m

Up

0' 0 m

Down

17%

Avg Grade (10°)

65%

Max Grade (33°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Halfmoon Creek Rd, providing access to the Colorado Trail, Mt. Massive, and Mt. Elbert, is generally closed in winter, often as much as 5 miles below the trailhead.

Runner Notes

Although rocky and in some parts steep, Mt. Massive Trail provides means for an excellent run. Fast runners should expect 3-4 hrs round trip.

Description

Access this trail by running from the Mount Massive Trailhead (just a few hundred yards from the Mt. Elbert Trailhead). Continue north on the Colorado Trail for about 3.5 miles before turning left to access this trail at 11,300 ft.

Continue a quarter mile up a hill before coming to a clearing at 11,600 ft. Continue up through some willows, traversing PT 12,466. The grade will level out briefly as the Massive massif comes into view to the west.

Reach the saddle between Mt. Massive's summit ridge and South Massive. Here you may see runners coming up the Mt. Massive/North Halfmoon Trail. Stay right of the ridge crest and complete a 1/2 mile of class 2+ ridge scrambling to gain the summit.

Flora & Fauna

After breaking through a coniferous forest, expect to spend the day among pika and marmots. The wildflowers in this area are stunning and thrive as high as 14,000 ft.

Contacts

Shared By:

Tyler Prince with improvements by Karl W

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 4 votes

#8127

Overall
  4.5 from 4 votes
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Trail Rankings

#630

in Colorado

#8,127

Overall
12 Views Last Month
3,055 Since Mar 4, 2015
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Photos

View from Mt. Massive's summit on a summer day.
Mar 5, 2015 near Leadvil…, CO
Top of Mount Massive. There is a marmot in the picture.
Sep 13, 2023 near Leadvil…, CO
Top of Mt. Massive. There is a marmot in the picture.
Aug 1, 2023 near Leadvil…, CO
Mt. Elbert and the false summit on its standard route can be clearly seen from near treeline on Mt. Massive.
Oct 27, 2017 near Leadvil…, CO
A view of the Massive massif from Mt. Massive Trail.
Mar 5, 2015 near Leadvil…, CO
Approximate crash site of US Army Black Hawk on August 19, 2009.
Jul 20, 2020 near Leadvil…, CO

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