Colorado · Hiking

Duster

DusterPhoto: blt04, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.4 mi
round trip
1,003 ft
climb
9,326 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Duster open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name Duster, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Duster is an easy out-and-back hike in Colorado's Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, on the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. The trail is managed by the Forest Service, and it runs about 2.4 miles round trip, with a high point of 9,326 feet and a low point of 9,052 feet. The climb totals 265 feet of elevation gain. The route is short and low-impact, with a natural surface. Bikes are allowed. The steepest stretch comes early on, at about 0.27 miles in, with a grade of 14 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Spicer weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 42°F, and the station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up high run cooler. The hike starts close to two others: Sunshine and Pete's Wicked Trail, each about 0.1 mile away. Walton Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 2.4 miles off, and the climbing at Blob Rock lies about 3.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Duster

    Best months: June–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

      28° / 7°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      31° / 9°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      40° / 15°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 23°

      9 wet

    5. May

      59° / 30°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 36°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 42°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 40°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 34°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 25°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 16°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 9°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Spicer, CO, 16.6 mi away at 8,385 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.

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HIKE

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