Colorado · Hiking · Near Leadville

Bowman's Shortcut

Bowman's ShortcutPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
7.8 mi
round trip
849 ft
climb
11,700 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Bowman's Shortcut open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bowman's Shortcut is a 7.8-mile out-and-back hike in the Holy Cross Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from about 10,800 feet to about 11,700 feet, with an elevation gain of 849 feet one way. The route is rated hard. It is a natural-surface trail, and both horses and bikes are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 67°F with lows near 40°F, while winter brings highs in the mid-20s and frequent snow days. Two Elk and Shrine Ridge are both about 2.2 miles away. Gore Creek Campground is about 4.4 miles off, and Deluge Lake is about 4.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Gore Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 4.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Sawmill Pizza and Taphouse

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 7 mi
  • If it rainsPlazak, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Matchless Mine

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Plazak, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Bowman's Shortcut

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 14.2 mi away at 11,344 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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HIKE

Shrine Ridge

~4 min drive

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