Colorado · Hiking

Conundrum Creek

20.6 mi
round trip
3,231 ft
climb
12,955 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Conundrum Creek 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.

Conundrum Creek is a hard hike in the Aspen Ranger District of White River National Forest in Colorado, about 20.6 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 3,231 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is a natural-surface route that allows horses but not bikes. The hike is an out-and-back, starting at a low point of about 8,759 feet and reaching a high of about 12,955 feet. That makes it a serious climb, and the route is best suited to hikers and horseback riders who are prepared for a long day at high elevation. Silver Queen Campground and the Maroon Creek hike both sit about 2.6 miles away, and Castle Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 1.8 miles off. Maroon Lake Scenic, a lake fishing area, is about 4.4 miles away.

Go with a guide

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

East MaroonPhoto: Cal Wolfe, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Maroon

~5 min drive

14.59-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's White River National Forest with 2,189 ft gain.

Congo TrailPhoto: randomduck, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Congo Trail

~5 min drive

2.56-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 1,978 ft elevation gain.

Cherry TrailPhoto: Baker Pics and Whatnot, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cherry Trail

~6 min drive

1.0-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 421 ft elevation gain

Maroon PeakPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Maroon Peak

~8 min drive

Standard route to Maroon Peak (14,163 ft) from Maroon Lake.

Maroon-Snowmass TrailPhoto: Michael Kirsh, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Maroon-Snowmass Trail

~8 min drive

A strenuous 32.86-mile out-and-back trek across rocky Colorado terrain for experienced hikers seeking a serious backcountry challenge.

Ute TrailPhoto: Baker Pics and Whatnot, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ute Trail

~6 min drive

2.68-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 1,044 ft gain.

Thunderbowl TrailPhoto: Cloudforest, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Thunderbowl Trail

~8 min drive

0.37-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 194 ft of elevation gain.

North Maroon PeakPhoto: Sandy Horvath-Dori from Grand Junction, CO, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

North Maroon Peak

~8 min drive

Standard route to North Maroon Peak (13,980 ft) from Maroon Lake.

Ajax TrailPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Ajax Trail

~9 min drive

2.98-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 2,655 ft gain/loss.

SummitPhoto: NHV, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Summit

~9 min drive

1.76-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 945 ft elevation gain.

Also worth it near here

Highland PeakPhoto: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Highland Peak

~2 min drive

PADDLE

Castle Creek

~3 min drive

BED

Silver Queen Campground

~4 min drive

Maroon Creek TrailPhoto: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Maroon Creek Trail

~5 min drive