Colorado · Hiking
Hiking in Alma, Colorado
Alma sits at around 10,578 feet in South Park, making it one of the highest incorporated towns in the United States and a legitimate base camp for serious high-altitude hiking.
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Alma sits at around 10,578 feet in South Park, making it one of the highest incorporated towns in the United States and a legitimate base camp for serious high-altitude hiking. The trails and roads fanning out from here climb into the Mosquito Range, where routes like Mount Democrat Trail and Mount Bross Trail push well above treeline into tundra terrain. Many of the 43 listed routes follow old mining and forest roads — Mosquito Pass Road, Wheeler Lake Road, Silver Lake Road, Cooney Lake Road — which means the approaches are often wide and well-graded but the altitude still bites hard. Cameron Ridge Connector Trail and Windy Ridge offer ridge-line walking with big views over South Park without committing to a full fourteener. Because you're already starting high, acclimatization matters more here than on most Colorado hiking trips. A visitor coming from sea level who drives straight to Alma and immediately heads up Mount Bross Trail is going to have a rough time. Give yourself a day at elevation before pushing hard. Summer afternoons bring fast-moving thunderstorms, especially on exposed ridges, so early starts are not optional — they're the standard operating procedure for anything above treeline.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to hike around Alma?
July through mid-September is the reliable window for most routes, including the higher trails like Mount Democrat Trail and Mount Bross Trail. Snow can linger on north-facing slopes and above 13,000 feet well into June, and early October storms can close things down quickly. Late July and August offer the most stable conditions but also the most afternoon lightning risk, so plan to be off exposed ridges by noon.
How hard is it to hike at Alma's elevation if I'm coming from a lower altitude?
Harder than you expect. Alma itself sits above 10,500 feet, and routes like Mosquito Pass Road and the fourteener trails climb several thousand feet above that. Spend at least one full day in town or at a similar elevation before attempting anything strenuous. Headaches, shortness of breath, and slower pace are normal; nausea and dizziness are signs to descend.
Are the forest roads like Forest Road 450 and Mosquito Pass Road hikeable or are they vehicle routes?
Both. Many of these routes are open to high-clearance vehicles and are also listed as hikes, so expect traffic on some of them, particularly on weekends. Hiking them gives you a more gradual grade than a dedicated trail, which can actually be useful for acclimatization walks. Mosquito Pass Road in particular is a historic route with significant elevation gain and long views, and it's worth doing on foot even if a 4WD could drive it.
What gear should I bring for a day hike out of Alma?
Layers are non-negotiable — temperatures above treeline can drop fast even in August, and wind on routes like Windy Ridge and Cameron Ridge Connector Trail is constant. Bring a rain shell, sun protection, and more water than you think you need since dry air at altitude accelerates dehydration. Trekking poles help significantly on the loose rocky terrain common to the old mining roads and upper trail sections.
Are there easier hikes near Alma for people who aren't ready for the fourteeners?
Yes. Routes like Cameron Ridge Connector Trail, Silver Lake Road, and Cooney Lake Road offer solid hiking without the full commitment of a summit push on Mount Democrat or Mount Bross. The mining road routes tend to have more gradual grades and give you the option to turn around whenever you've had enough. Even these lower-intensity options will feel more demanding than trails at lower elevations, so don't underestimate them.
