Buena Vista Area

​

#1 - Huron Peak via North Huron Trail-about 7 miles. One of Colorado's 14ers. Great, easy to follow trail. Need 4x4 to get to the top trailhead. Huron Peak via North Huron Trail ,located near Buena Vista, CO., rated as difficult. The trail is best used from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Directions Hyw 24 to county rd/forest rd 390. Huron Peak Trailhead (Clear Ck./ S. Winfield)

​

#2 - Mount Yale Summit Trail-about 10 miles, Keep in mind this is only a report for the first portion of the trail. CR 306 open to trailhead. (Closed about .1 mi beyond it.) Trail up to that point is snow-packed and passable without snowshoes (though expect some postholing). From the fork the trail is fairly easy up until around 13,000 feet..located near Buena Vista, CO., that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, nature trips, and snowshoeing and is best used from July until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Directions Hwy 285 S to W Main St in Buena Vista to state hyw 306 /cottonwood pass

​

#3-Kroenke Lake Trail-about 9 miles, near Buena Vista, CO. that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is best used from July until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Directions Hwy 285 S to Crossman Ave in Buena Vista 1 h 39 min (88.5 mi) Take Co Rd 350, Co Rd 365 and Forest Rd 365 to your destination

​

#4 - Lost Lake Trail- about 2.5 miles, Cottonwood Pass road is closed seasonally. Check on closures before visiting. A short, easy hike below the summit of Cottonwood Pass good warm up for other hikes in the Collegiate Mtn Range as well as excellent aspen viewing in Sept. Lost lake is below the continental divide, located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Directions Hwy 285 S to W Main St in Buena Vista 1 h 38 min (88.1 mi) Drive to State Hwy 306 28 min (17.8 mi) Turn left onto W Main St (signs for County Rd 306/Cottonwood Pass) Street View 0.8 mi Continue onto State Hwy 306

​

#5 - Mount Harvard Trail-about 14 miles, This route features scenic views of three 14ers, good fishing at Bear Lake,

trails above timberline, and rock scrambling at the top of Mt. Harvard. Full day hike. Please note: There is a boulder

wall close to the summit that is NOT dog-friendly. located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Directions 

 Hwy 285 S to Crossman Ave in Buena Vista 1 h 39 min (88.5 mi) Take Co Rd 350, Co Rd 365 and Forest Rd 365 to your destination

​

#6 - Harvard Lakes Trail-about 5.4 miles, Two small beautiful lakes hidden at the base of Mt Columbia. From the trailhead go south along the old logging road. When the road takes a sharp turn right (West) you will see a path continuing south. This is the key to this trail. Once you find this trail the rest is easy. After the trail crosses located

near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is best used from March until November. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Directions Follow US Hwy 285 S to Co Rd 384 in Chaffee County 1 h 42 min (90.9 mi) Follow Co Rd 384, Co Rd 361 and Camino Del Norte to Monte Escondido Dr

​

#7 - Bear Lake via Horn Fork Trail-about 10.4 miles A high altitude lake with views of many mountains. From the trailhead follow the obvious path west along North Cottonwood Creek. After a mile and a half the trail will cross

to the north , located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as moderate,  is best used from March until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail Directions  Hwy 285 S to Crossman Ave in Buena Vista

1 h 39 min (88.5 mi) Take Co Rd 350, Co Rd 365 and Forest Rd 365 to your destination

​

#8 - La Plata Peak (Southern Approach)-7.1 miles located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features beautiful wild

flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used

from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Directions  Continue on US Hwy 285 S to Chaffee County 1 h 54 min (103 mi) Follow Co Rd 390 to Forest Rd 390A

​

#9 - Browns Pass Hartenstein Lake Trail- about 5.6 miles Please note this area is often covered in snow from

November through June. This can be a challenging hike, especially if you are carrying multi-day packs, but it has beautiful views. The Brown's Pass trail starts off with an incline- it is a hard uphill hike for the first 2 miles. The trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used

for hiking, nature trips, fishing,  and snowshoeing and is best used from June until October. Dogs are also able

to use this trail. Directions  Follow US Hwy 285 S to W Main St in Buena Vista 1 h 38 min (88.1 mi) Turn left onto 

W Main St (signs for County Rd 306/Cottonwood Pass) 0.8 mi Continue onto State Hwy 306 Destination will be

on the right

​

#10 - Midland Hill Trail-about 4.5 miles, located near Buena Vista, Colorado that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and mountain biking and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail Directions (sorry directions not given on this one)

​

#11 - Horn Fork Basin, Mount Harvard, Mount Colombia Loop-is about 6 miles, located near Buena Vista, Colorado

that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April

until September. Directions Follow US Hwy 285 S to Crossman Ave in Buena Vista 1 h 39 min (88.5 mi) 2.9 mi

Take Co Rd 350, Co Rd 365 and Forest Rd 365 to your destination

​

#12 - Cottonwood Pass-3.1 mile out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options. Dogs are also able to use this trail

Directions Follow US Hwy 285 S to W Main St in Buena Vista 1 h 38 min (88.1 mi) Drive to State Hwy 306

​

#13 - Missouri Mountain West Ridge-is a 5.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from May until October. (sorry directions not given on this one).

​

#14 - Mount Columbia via Horn Fork Basin Trail-is a 12 mile, located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. The trail is primarily used for hiking, camping, and backpacking and is best used from June until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Directions Follow US Hwy 285 S to Crossman Ave in Buena Vista 1 h 39 min (88.5 mi) Take Co Rd 350, Co Rd 365 and Forest Rd 365 to your destination

​

#15 - Mount Yale from Avalanche Trailhead- about 9.5 miles, This route to Mount Yale is less traveled than the

Denny Creek Trailhead. This route goes north on the Colorado Trail and then turns left (west) to reach the Mount

Yale Summit. is a 9.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that offers

the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May

until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail Directions  Follow US Hwy 285 S to W Main St in Buena Vista

1 h 38 min (88.1 mi) Take State Hwy 306 to your destination

​

#16 - Barbara Whipple Trail Loop-is a 3.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that

offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Directions Buena Vista, CO , Head northwest on E Main St toward Barbara Whipple Trail 466 ft . Turn

left  onto Barbara Whipple Trail

​

#17 - Mount Harvard via Frenchman Creek Trail 1457-is a 18.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a river and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips,

and backpacking and is best used from May until October. Directions Buena Vista Colorado Head west on E Main St toward Rail Rd Right of Way 443 ft Turn right onto US-24 W 7.5 mi Turn left onto Co Rd 386

​

#18 - Harvard Lakes via Colorado Trail Segment 21-is a 6 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from May until September. Directions  Buena Vista Colorado Head west on E Main St toward Rail Rd Right of Way 443 ft Turn right onto US-24 W 0.4 mi Turn left onto Crossman Ave 0.3 mi Continue onto Co Rd 350 1.8 mi Turn right onto Co Rd 361 0.9 mi Sharp left onto Co Rd 365 2.3 mi Continue onto Forest Rd 365

​

#19 - Harvard Lakes, Mount Columbia, Mount Harvard-is a 18.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from May until September. Direction Buena Vista CO.

Head west on E Main St toward Rail Rd Right of Way 443 ft Turn right onto US-24 W 0.4 mi Turn left onto Crossman Ave

0.3 mi Continue onto Co Rd 350 1.8 mi Turn right onto Co Rd 361 0.9 mi Sharp left onto Co Rd 365 2.3 mi Continue onto Forest Rd 365

​

#20 - Turret Trail-is a 6.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Buena Vista, Colorado that features a river. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, trail running, and fishing. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Directions Buena Vista CO. Head west on E Main St toward Rail Rd Right of Way 443 ft Turn left onto US-24 E

2.4 mi Continue onto US Hwy 285 S 3.4 mi Turn left onto Co Rd 301 0.6 mi Turn right onto Co Rd 300