Hunter Creek

Hunter Creek is an out-and-back hike in Colorado's Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness, on the Aspen Ranger District of the White River National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail runs for about 8.8 miles with a total elevation gain of 707 feet. The route starts at a low point of about 10,000 feet and climbs to a high of about 10,434 feet, making it a hard hike that suits hikers with a strong pace and a plan for the full day. The trail is a natural-surface path, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The trail is open year-round, so plan for conditions that change with the season. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station records typical July averages of about 73°F for the high and 39°F for the low, and it sits roughly 700 feet below the trail. Temperatures on the route run cooler. Winter is cold, with typical January highs around 31°F and lows near 3°F. Slab Park lies about half a mile away. The Bald Knob mountain biking area is about 1.4 miles off. Farther out, the Roaring Fork River offers canoeing, and Difficult Group Campground is about 5.5 miles away.