Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven Trailhead

From Coloradohikingtrails

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven 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.

Fast Facts
Distance(Miles):	4.2 one-way
Trail Surface & Condition:	Dirt-Rocky in places
Other Trail Users:	Bicycles, Dogs, Horses
Ownership:	National Forest
Best Seasons:	Year around, weather permitting
Type:	Out-and-Back
Beginning Elev (Feet):	7,322
Ending Elev (Feet):	9,225
Elevation Gain (Feet):	1,903
Difficulty Rating:	12.3
Glen Haven Trailhead GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.4524833 Longitude: -105.449
Crosier Mountain Summit GPS Coordinates:	Latitude: 40.4323167 Longitude: -105.4254333

Piper Meadows from Crosier Mountain Trail - Rocky Mountain National Park in the background

Trailhead Information

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven Trailhead
Near To: Glen Haven and Estes Park, Colorado

Driving Directions To Trailhead From Drake on Hwy 34, take the Devils Gulch Rd. (County Rd. 43) to Glen Haven. Park across the street from the Livery Stable, and walk up the dirt road that cuts behind the stable. The trail sign is up the hill on the right side of the road, just beyond a left turn. No facilities.

Downloadable PDF topographic map of Crosier Mountain with the locations of the various Crosier Mountain Trailheads waypointed on the map.

Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Glen Haven Trailhead

Elevation: 7,322'

Maps & Images Lat: 40.4524833 Long: -105.449

Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps

Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth

Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

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 - Garden Gate Trailhead and Crosier Mountain Trail 931 - Rainbow Trailhead for descriptions of the other routes.

The trail climbs to the south through Ponderosa pine, fir and juniper. After about 0.8 miles, the trail tops out on a ridge, where it intersects with a trail to the H-G Ranch. After a drop into a small canyon, the trail climbs to Piper Meadow. Henry Piper operated a dairy farm here from around 1913 to the 1930s. The foundations of some of the buildings can still be seen. The trail follows the edge of the meadow to the south side, where it turns sharply left andclimbs through a series of switchbacks to a ridge and the Rainbow Trail junction.

After climbing another 1.5 miles through a thick stand of Lodgepole pine, you will summit a ridge, where the trail joins the Garden Gate Trail. From here, another 1/2 mile will bring you to the summit of Crosier Mountain.

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