Colorado · Hiking · Near Telluride

Cutthroat

CutthroatPhoto: Daniel Weber, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)
12.3 mi
round trip
1,302 ft
climb
9,797 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Cutthroat open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Columbine Ranger District. It doesn't name Cutthroat, so check the source for the area it covers (5 listed).

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

Cutthroat is a hard hike in Colorado's San Juan National Forest, within the Columbine Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 12 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,302 feet, taking you from a low point of 8,860 feet to a high of 9,797 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and open to bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Silverton weather station, which sits about 500 feet lower, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to around -6°F in January. The trail opens from May 1 to November 14, and the Upper Hermosa Creek Trailhead is the parking for the route. Within a few miles you'll find the Hermosa Park Road Boulders climbing area and the Genesis Wall (Canyon Entrance) climbing area, along with the Beginner Loop and Fruit Loop cross-country ski routes.

Around this trail

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

    Sig Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Hoody's

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Little Hawaii Grotto

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Cutthroat

    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

      34° / -6°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / -3°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 6°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 17°

      9 wet

    5. May

      58° / 25°

      9 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 31°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 38°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 37°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 30°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 20°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 7°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / -5°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silverton, CO, 14.8 mi away at 9,285 ft. The station sits about 500 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

Engineer MountainPhoto: Frans-Banja Mulder, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Engineer Mountain

~4 min drive

19.94-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 5,333 ft elevation gain and a max elevation of 12,193 ft.

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

Castle Rock Trail

~5 min drive

1.44-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado with 666 ft gain/loss

PassPhoto: aoiaio, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Pass

~9 min drive

4.96-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,005 ft gain.

Jupiter MountainPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jupiter Mountain

~13 min drive

Route to the summit of Jupiter Mountain (13,819 ft) from Needleton.

Coal CreekPhoto: aoiaio, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Coal Creek

~10 min drive

6.08-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,608 ft elevation gain.

Wagon TrailPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wagon Trail

~13 min drive

2.34-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 579 ft elevation gain and loss.

Deer CreekPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Deer Creek

~12 min drive

9.48-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado managed by San Juan National Forest.

Grizzly PeakPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Grizzly Peak

~13 min drive

Route to the summit of Grizzly Peak (13,642 ft) from Needleton.

Dutch Creek TrailPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dutch Creek Trail

~11 min drive

12.2-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,935 ft elevation gain and loss.

Aspen LoopPhoto: markbyzewski, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Aspen Loop

~13 min drive

2.37-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 99 ft elevation gain.