Colorado · Hiking · Near Estes Park

Crosier Mountain

16.0 mi
round trip
3,018 ft
climb
8,744 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Jun, Sep
best months

Is Crosier Mountain open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Canyon Lakes Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Crosier Mountain is a hard out-and-back hike in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The trail is about 16 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 3,018 feet from the low point at 6,414 feet to the high point at 8,744 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is on natural surface with biking and horseback riding allowed. Summer is the most comfortable season. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Estes Park put July highs around 80°F with lows near 48°F, and the station sits about 900 feet lower, so temperatures on the mountain run cooler. The parking is at the Crosier Mountain Garden Gate Trailhead, and the trail is open year-round. Several other routes start close by, including the Crosier Mountain Summit and H Bar G Ranch Trail, and Switchback Crags offers climbing about 1.4 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Rabbit Ears Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 4.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hunter's Chop House

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rains

    Almost East Gemstone Peak

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Estes Park

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Crosier Mountain

    Best months: May–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

      37° / 16°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      38° / 16°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 21°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 26°

      10 wet

    5. May

      61° / 35°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 43°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 48°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 46°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 39°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 30°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 23°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      36° / 16°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Estes Park 3 Sse, CO, 7.6 mi away at 7,812 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Crosier Mountain H-GPhoto: christinejwarner, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crosier Mountain H-G

~1 min drive

1.2-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 138 ft elevation gain.

Crosier Mountain Rainbow TrailPhoto: Jesse James — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crosier Mountain Rainbow Trail

~2 min drive

Crosier Mountain Rainbow Trail is a 1.96-mile trail in Colorado with 800 feet of elevation gain.

Black Canyon TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Black Canyon Trail

~12 min drive

7.57-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft elevation gain.

North Fox TrailPhoto: christinejwarner, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Fox Trail

~5 min drive

1.16-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 516 ft gain and loss.

Miller ForkPhoto: christinejwarner, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Miller Fork

~5 min drive

6.28-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 860 ft gain and 8,597 ft max elevation.

HIKE

Storm Mountain

~6 min drive

8.50-mile out-and-back trail to Storm Mountain in Colorado, 1,144 ft gain.

Cow Creek TrailPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cow Creek Trail

~6 min drive

1.32-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 264 ft elevation gain

North BoundaryPhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Boundary

~6 min drive

4.9 mi · Moderate

HIKE

Danner Pass

~9 min drive

6.77-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado reaching 10,090 feet.

Gem Lake TrailPhoto: Jesse James — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gem Lake Trail

~7 min drive

4.05-mile out-and-back hike with 500 ft gain to Gem Lake at 8,800 ft in Colorado.