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Follow the CDT to 360-degree views on a ridgeline run along the Continental Divide.


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Map Key

6.4

Miles

10.2

KM

78%

Runnable

13,078' 3,986 m

High

11,324' 3,452 m

Low

1,754' 534 m

Up

1,753' 534 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

47%

Max Grade (25°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers

Overview

Follow the CDT (plus a fun spur trail) to 360-degree views on a ridgeline run along the Continental Divide. At the beginning, a large parking lot with bathrooms (porta-potties due to COVID-19) and easy access right off Highway 40 between Idaho Springs and Winter Park makes access a breeze. The run can be shortened to just reach the ridgeline if desired (1.7 miles one way, 3.4 round-trip).

Description

This run offers a great option to see breathtaking Colorado mountain views, including multiple 14ers as well as Rocky Mountain National Park from a distance. It can also be shortened to just reach the Continental Divide ridgeline, which you reach 1.7 miles in.

Start at the Berthoud Pass parking lot. Follow the fire road up a couple of gradual and easy switchbacks. Keep an eye out for a small sign at the corner of one of the switchbacks for "Mt. Flora Trail" (really the CDT), which will take you off of the fire road and on a more direct route up to the ridgeline. At the sign, continue straight (north) on this aforementioned trail.

Once you reach the ridgeline, prepare for long-ranging views here on out. Turn left onto the ridgeline and follow the CDT upwards to the Mt. Flora summit. Take in the views, then backtrack down the way you came, for a grand total of ~6.4 miles.

In Winter: Be aware of avalanche terrain just below the trail on the northern side of Colorado Mines Peak. You can avoid this by following the road to just below the summit of Colorado Mines Peak, walking down along the ridge to the saddle between Colorado Mines and Flora, and rejoining the standard route there. This will add a about a mile and an additional 300' of elevation gain to the route.

Contacts

Shared By:

Cam Morton with improvements by Zach Novak and 1 other

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 46 votes

#221

Overall
  4.7 from 46 votes
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4 Star
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3 Star
4%
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Recommended Route Rankings

#53

in Colorado

#221

Overall
52 Views Last Month
11,744 Since Oct 16, 2017
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Photos

Colorado Mines Peak weather station from the snowy ridgeline
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
Blue Lake from the ridgeline
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
CDT northbound to Mt Flora (top-right)
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
Berthoud Pass from the trail coming back down
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
On the trail with Mom
Jul 17, 2019 near Winter…, CO
Continental Divide Trail (CDT) at Flora Peak, Colorado
Jul 17, 2019 near Winter…, CO

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 12 days ago
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Check-Ins

Aug 13, 2024
Atsuko Ohtake
Jul 17, 2022
Jordan G
Great views when the clouds broke up. 6.2mi — 1h 37m
Jun 13, 2021
Atsuko Ohtake
Sep 6, 2020
Nina McVicker
Gorgeous day!! Clear trail, sunny skies. 6.4mi
Sep 2, 2020
Derek Freed
9.5mi — 2h 20m
Jul 14, 2020
Emma H-p
I hiked. There is a false summit and that is the steepest part after the saddle. There's one mile to go of relatively flat terrain after. Very windy! 6.4mi — 3h 25m
Jun 25, 2020
Kara Paulus
7.1mi — 3h 02m
Nov 19, 2019
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