Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

Buchannan Pass Trail

Buchannan Pass TrailPhoto: Nina Stawski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
11.0 mi
round trip
1,214 ft
climb
9,785 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Is Buchannan Pass Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Buchannan Pass Trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a one-way climb of about 1,200 feet from a low point of roughly 8,550 feet to a high of about 9,785 feet. The out-and-back format lets hikers set their own turnaround, so you can adjust the distance based on your time and fitness. The trail passes through typical Colorado high-country terrain, and the moderate length makes it a good choice for a half-day outing. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 68°F with lows near 43°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Dogs, bikes and horses are all allowed on the trail, and it is not wheelchair accessible. Camp Dick Campground and the Warm-up Area climbing area sit within half a mile, and the Beaver Reservoir Cutoff Trail is about 0.7 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Camp Dick Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Meadow Mountain Cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Matt Golon, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Buchannan Pass Trail

    Best months: June and September. 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

      29° / 12°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 11°

      16 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 17°

      16 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 22°

      17 wet

    5. May

      50° / 29°

      16 wet

    6. Jun

      62° / 36°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      68° / 43°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      66° / 41°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      59° / 34°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 26°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      35° / 19°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 12°

      15 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Boulder 14 W, CO, 6.6 mi away at 9,828 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

BEAVER RESERVOIR CUTOFFPhoto: Nina Stawski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

BEAVER RESERVOIR CUTOFF

~1 min drive

1.46-mile out-and-back trail with 401 ft elevation gain in Colorado.

Beaver Reservoir Cutoff TrailPhoto: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beaver Reservoir Cutoff Trail

~1 min drive

1.38-mile out-and-back trail with 435 ft elevation gain in Colorado.

HIKE

St Vrain Mountain

~6 min drive

13.32-mile out-and-back to St Vrain Mountain with 3,588 ft gain.

Apache PeakPhoto: matthewevans1991, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Apache Peak

~8 min drive

Route to the summit of Apache Peak (13,442 ft) from Long Lake Trailhead.

WapitiPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wapiti

~4 min drive

Wapiti is a 2.65-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 54 feet of elevation gain.

Sourdough TrailPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sourdough Trail

~5 min drive

1.0-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 268 ft elevation gain and loss.

Beaver CreekPhoto: PACarlson, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Beaver Creek

~7 min drive

13.81-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,094 ft elevation gain.

Paiute PeakPhoto: jonathan c. wheeler, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Paiute Peak

~8 min drive

Route to the summit of Paiute Peak (13,012 ft) from Niwot Picnic Area.

Bills Loop - Private TrailPhoto: Niranjan Arminius, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Bills Loop - Private Trail

~6 min drive

0.51-mile loop in Colorado with 241 ft elevation gain and loss.

Waldrop (North)Photo: leighannemcc, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Waldrop (North)

~6 min drive

4.68-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 268 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors