Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead
From Coloradohikingtrails
Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead
Climb through Ponderosa pine, fir, lodgepole, juniper and grassy meadows to the summit of Crosier Mountain. Great views of the Estes Park Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Trailhead Information
Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead
Near To: Glen Haven and Drake, Colorado
Driving Directions To Trailhead
From Drake on Hwy 34, take the Devils Gulch Rd. (County Rd. 43) for 2.2 miles. Look for a small metal gate on the south side of the road, with a small parking area. No facilities.
Downloadable PDF topographic map of Crosier Mountain with the locations of the various Crosier Mountain Trailheads waypointed on the map.
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Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead
Maps & Images Lat: 40.442325 Long: -105.378337
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Trail & Hike Description
There are three trails up Crosier Mountain, each with a separate description. With two vehicles, you can combine two of the trails. See Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven Trailhead and Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Rainbow Trailhead for descriptions of the other routes.
Of the three trails to the summit, this one is the longest. From the trailhead, you climb a small ridge, and then wind through a meadow filled with rabbit brush. The trail then enters a ponderosa pine and fir forest. Although the elevation gain is significant, the trail makes several switchbacks and climbs gradually.
You will top two ridges. Looking north from the second ridge, you willsee the summits of North and South Signal Mountains. From here, the trail passes through an Aspen grove. You crest one more ridge, then level out and pass through a burn area and a large meadow. From here it heads up a small canyon, and climbs sharply, topping another ridge at 8,000 feet. From the crest of this ridge, you can se the top of Crosier Mountain to the west. The trail then drops into True Gulch,. and starts another climb. After about 1.5 miles, you will intersect the Crosier Mountain Summit Trail. From here, another 1/2 mile will bring you to the summit of Crosier Mountain.
From the intersection with the Summit Trail, the main trail becomes the Glen Haven Trail. It descends to Glen Haven. The Rainbow Trail also intersects this main trail, about 1.5 miles downhill from the Garden Gate/Summit Trail intersection.
The summit of Crosier Mountain offers views of Estes Park, the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, and the surrounding countryside. Wildflowers are abundant. Be sure to carry plenty of water on this hike, as none is available on the hike.
External Links & References
Downloadable PDF topographic map of Crosier Mountain with the locations of the various Crosier Mountain Trailheads waypointed on the map
Crosier Mountain Trail Description on US Forest Service web site
Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Garden Gate Trailhead Picture Gallery
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