Other people have noted the first 50 of the trail is steep. Chief Mountain Featured Route 2.8mi Arapaho NF.

We had NEVER hiked a day in our lives before this. Colorado Tourism Office, 1625 Broadway, Suite 1700 , Denver, CO, 80202, Phone: 800-COLORADO. Cut over to Squaw mountain as well for a double summit.

Great opportunity to climb to a mountain peak without too much difficulty. As with all roads at this altitude, be sure to check conditions and closures before setting out. slight wind at the top. Their teachers just had to keep them all in line so they didn’t run off. The trail was well marked but there are plenty of things to trip over if you are not watching where you are stepping. Great little hike and the view from the summit is pretty spectacular. Directions from Idaho Springs: Exit I-70 in Idaho Springs at exit 240. The trail was easy to follow, only 1 hr from Denver, not terribly long yet had THE most rewarding 360° views from the top.

The trail starts out as a steep 1/4 mile segment that takes hikers through dense alpine forest to Old Squaw Pass Road. Only took about 45 mins to get to the top but the trailhead is nearly impossible to find and no cell service. From Denver, take Interstate 70 west to exit 252. The trailhead is located 5 miles east of Echo Lake on Colorado Highway 103. "White Man's Dog raised his eyes to the west and followed the Backbone of the World from north to south until he could pick out Chief Mountain. Great little hike, but views today were pretty hazy due to the fire smoke. The drive up was terrifying! Made it to the top with cautious hiking, took me 1.5 hrs round trip. other than that amazing hike. Hiking the Chief is a challenge. This is a great vantage point for taking in the changing aspens along the Front Range of Colorado.

The trail head for the climb of Chief Mountain is located at a Native American camp ground near the base of the mountain.

Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Stay on maintained trails as it can literally take centuries for this alpine environment to recover from the damage inflicted upon it by foot traffic. You’ll notice that the trail begins just a bit East of the parking area on the South side of the road. Chief Mountain Trail is a 3.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Idaho Springs, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. It was slippery and there was LOTS of snow and some ice. One of my favorite hikes to bring guests on. Trail Attributes. This hike is my favorite hike i’ve ever done! Pretty, decently well maintained trail with beautiful 360 view at the summit. Road up to trailhead was great. It is reasonably steep, you gain 1,000 ft in just 1.5 miles, but the trail is easy to follow, breaks tree … Now until further notice. DID NOT HIKE When it’s wet, the rock is slippery so keep that in mind, as drop-offs on the summits fall hundreds of … The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until November. It rather made the trail more fun.

The one thing I liked about this trail is there are several places on the way up but you can stop and have an amazing view along the way, before you reach the top. The Chief Mountain trail begins on the south side of Squaw Pass road. So glad we gave it another shot! Go south on Colorado Highway 103. I forgot how narrow the trail is so made passing (with dogs) a little tough especially in time of COVID. Featured Routes. Mount Evans can be seen to the West and Squaw Mountain to the East. Squaw Pass road is paved and climbs the mountain in a series of switchback for 10.4 miles. Definitely muddy after the snow this week. Thank you for your service teachers!! Windy at the top, but beautiful! Roadside parking may be limited on weekends.