Tristan and I usually try to get up to the mountains and try out a new hike every summer. This weekend we went up to Black Powder Pass since we wanted to check out the fall leaves along the Boreas Pass road. I couldn’t find a ton of information about the route, but the starting point was clear enough so we went for it.
It was a gorgeous fall day and the air was crisp without being cold. Since the trailhead starts atop Boreas Pass you’ve gained quite a bit of elevation already and the views are pretty even from the parking lot.
Hike Information
Distance:
3.4 miles roundtrip (roughly)
Total Time:
2 hours (We ate lunch at the top and stopped for photos along the way, so hiking nonstop would obviously be a lot quicker. And the trail kind of peters out so I don’t know how much farther you can actually go)
The Trail:
It starts off quite flat, but once you dip into the forest and back out into the open it’s a pretty steady climb to the top. The trail’s end seems to disappear and we weren’t too sure where the official end of the trail was.
What I liked:
The views are good and wide-reaching, and we only saw one other person on the trail until we returned to the parking lot (where there were tons of people).
What I didn’t like:
Since we went in the fall we were rewarded with views of the lovely patches of aspens in the valleys below (though I think it’d be awesome to check out when the wildflowers are in full bloom, usually in July. Also, the trail could be better marked.
Additional Information:
Black Powder Pass
Map
Boreas Pass is marked in red and that’s the route we drove to get to the trailhead. The path we took for the hike is yellow. (Please note that I looked online and couldn’t find a more accurate trail map so I did my best to approximate the hiking route we took.)
View Fall Leaves & a Hike, Boreas Pass, Colorado in a larger map
Black Powder Pass Hike
This shot was taken where we parked and began our hike up Black Powder Pass. (And here’s a little history for you – back in the 1800s, a small community actually lived up here when the South Park Highline railroad passed through the area. Some buildings still remain.)
The hike starts off nice and easily.
After a short jaunt through the evergreen trees…
…we emerged and hiked out in the open until reaching what (we think) was the end of the trail (it seemed to peter out a bit so we couldn’t tell exactly where it ended).
Looking South towards the South Park Basin. (As another side note, the TV Show South Park is based on a fictional town named South Park that supposedly lies within the real South Park Basin).
Nani enjoying the view. I know I’m not impartial, but I love this photo. :)
View to the North and where we ended the hike.
Another shot looking towards South Park.
After soaking in the view and munching on our snacks, we made the return trek.
When we reached the fallen tree again it was time to go Up and Over!
Looking West towards Breckenridge near the start of the hike.
Hope you enjoyed the photos! Any suggestions for other good hikes in the area?