Colorado · Hiking

Jackson

1.4 mi
round trip
75 ft
climb
9,668 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Jackson open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Jackson, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Jackson is an easy, short out-and-back hike in Colorado's Ouray Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail is 1.4 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 75 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The route starts and ends at the West Fork parking area, and it is a natural-surface trail that is not accessible. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The trail runs from a low point of about 9,034 feet to a high point of about 9,668 feet, so it is a gentle climb rather than a steep one. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake City show July highs around 77°F with lows near 44°F, while winter highs stay around 31°F. Jackson Guard Station and the Silver Jack Shoreline mountain biking trail are both about 0.6 miles away, and Alpine Trail 225 is about 0.7 miles off. Silver Jack Campground is about 1.3 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 Jackson

    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

      31° / -1°

    2. Feb

      36° / 4°

    3. Mar

      43° / 15°

    4. Apr

      51° / 23°

    5. May

      62° / 30°

    6. Jun

      74° / 38°

    7. Jul

      77° / 44°

    8. Aug

      75° / 43°

    9. Sep

      68° / 36°

    10. Oct

      57° / 25°

    11. Nov

      43° / 13°

    12. Dec

      31° / 1°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake City 1nne, CO, 16.7 mi away at 8,714 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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

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OWL CREEK PASS SNO

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OLD OWL CREEK SPUR BPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

OLD OWL CREEK SPUR B

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Old Owl Creek TrailPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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STEALEY MOUNTAIN SPURPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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NATE CREEKPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Courthouse MountainPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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