Colorado · Hiking
Hiking in Dillon, Colorado
Dillon sits at around 9,000 feet in Summit County, which means hiking here starts where most Front Range trails top out.
100 spotsUpdated weeklyFree to access
View on mapHiking · 100 spots
Dillon sits at around 9,000 feet in Summit County, which means hiking here starts where most Front Range trails top out. The town is hemmed in by the Tenmile Range to the west and the Snake River drainage to the south, and that geography gives you a genuinely wide spread of terrain within a short drive. Families looking for a mellow afternoon can head to Sapphire Point Trail above Dillon Reservoir or keep it flat on Radical Hill Road and Chihuahua Gulch Road. Hikers who want to earn some altitude have options like Argentine Pass Trail along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, or Grays Peak Trail, which climbs one of Colorado's most accessible fourteeners. The Montezuma corridor — Saints John Road, Warden Gulch Road, Horseshoe Basin Road — gives you a cluster of historic mining-district routes where the scenery opens up fast and the grades stay manageable for most of the approach. With 138 active listings in the area, you are not going to run out of new ground in a long weekend, but it helps to know what you are getting into before you leave the car. Afternoon thunderstorms roll in reliably from late June through August, trail surfaces above treeline stay icy well into June, and a handful of the routes here are shared with ATVs and jeeps.
Frequently asked questions
When do the higher trails like Argentine Pass and Grays Peak actually become hikeable?
Most years, trails above 12,000 feet hold significant snow and ice through late May and into June. Argentine Pass Trail and Grays Peak Trail are typically in reasonable shape by late June, but you should check current conditions through the Dillon Ranger District before heading out. Microspikes are worth throwing in your pack through at least mid-June even if the forecast looks clear.
What time should I start a hike to avoid afternoon thunderstorms?
Plan to be off exposed ridgelines and above-treeline terrain by noon, especially on routes like Argentine Pass Trail and Grays Peak Trail. Starting at or before 7 a.m. gives you a comfortable buffer. Storms build fast here and the lightning risk on open tundra and summit approaches is serious — this is not a guideline you want to test.
Are there good options for hikers who are not yet acclimated to altitude?
Yes. Trails like Sapphire Point Trail, Radical Hill Road, Chihuahua Gulch Road, and Laskey Gulch Trail keep you at reservoir and valley elevation and involve modest elevation gain. Spending your first day on one of these before pushing higher is a practical way to gauge how your body is handling the altitude before committing to a long climb.
Do I need to worry about sharing the trail with vehicles on routes like Saints John Road or Horseshoe Basin Road?
Several of the routes in the Montezuma area, including Saints John Road, Montezuma-Deer Creek Road, and Horseshoe Basin Road, are open to 4WD vehicles and ATVs. Stay to the side on blind corners, and expect more traffic on weekends from late June through September. Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter.
What gear should I bring for a day hike out of Dillon?
At minimum: a rain layer, sun protection, and more water than you think you need — the dry air at elevation accelerates dehydration. For anything above treeline, add a warm mid-layer since temperatures can drop 20 degrees in the time it takes a storm to build. Trekking poles are genuinely useful on the rockier approaches like Argentine Pass Trail, not just a nice-to-have.
