Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Chief Mountain

Chief MountainPhoto: designsbykari, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.5 mi
loop
724 ft
climb
11,680 ft
high point
Loop
route

Is Chief Mountain 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.

Chief Mountain is an easy hike of about 1.45 miles in Colorado's Clear Creek Ranger District, part of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The route rises from about 10,710 feet to about 11,680 feet, a total gain of 724 feet, and it forms a loop. The trail is open from June 1 to September 30, and the parking area is named Chief Mountain. The trip takes about an hour. The trail is a natural-surface loop. Horses and bikes are both allowed, so the hike works for riders and horseback travelers. Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout is about 1.5 miles away, and Warren Gulch is about 2.1 miles away. Captain Mountain, a mountain biking area, is about 2.6 miles away, and East Juni, a climbing area, is about 2.9 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Sq___ Mountain Fire Lookout

    Campground

    Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Brother's Grille

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 9.7 mi from Idaho Springs

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

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

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Route details

Distance
1.5 mi
Climbing
About 724 ft
Starts at
CHIEF MOUNTAIN (about 10,849 ft)
Summit
11,708 ft
Difficulty
Easy

Getting there

Park at CHIEF MOUNTAIN.

Questions about this route

How long is the Chief Mountain on Chief Mountain?

About 1.5 mi from CHIEF MOUNTAIN (about 10,849 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Chief Mountain?

About 724 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Chief Mountain?

It is rated easy.

Where does the Chief Mountain start?

CHIEF MOUNTAIN (about 10,849 ft).

Conditions and forecast on Chief Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.