Kaufman Creek
- 11.4 mi
- round trip
- 1,774 ft
- climb
- 9,540 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Kaufman Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Kaufman Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Gold Mountain Wildfire Roads and Trails Closure Order v 4.0
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Ophir Pass Road Closure
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Potter Basin and Beaver Park Roads Emergency Closures
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
TERMINATION OF ORDER - FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Dallas Area Closure order
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Kaufman Creek is a hard hike in the Paonia Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 11 miles long and rises roughly 1,800 feet from a low point of about 7,760 feet to a high of about 9,540 feet. It is an out-and-back route on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Crested Butte weather station, which sits a few hundred feet lower, show July highs around 76°F with lows near 40°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-20s and lows drop to about -7°F in January. The trail is not accessible. Robinson Creek Trail and Peter Creek are both about a mile away, and Mosley Ridge is about 1.5 miles off. For an overnight base, Lost Lake Campground is about 6.6 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Maroon Bells Guide and Outfitters34 mi away
- Cedar Creek RV Park and Lodging38 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Robinson Creek TrailHiking1.2 mi
- Peter CreekHiking1.2 mi
- Mosley RidgeHiking1.5 mi
- Little RobinsonHiking1.5 mi
- Cliff CreekCanoeing2.6 mi
- Coal CreekCanoeing3.4 mi
- Lost Lake CampgroundCamping6.6 mi
- Ruby Anthracite CreekCanoeing9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Beckwith BenchHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: indigoprime, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Robinson Creek TrailHiking · ~2 min drive
- Cliff Creek Cutoff 840.aHiking · ~3 min drive
- Cliff CreekHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: indigoprime, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Peter CreekHiking · ~2 min drive
- South Cliff CreekHiking · ~4 min drive
- Elk BasinHiking · ~3 min drive
- Mosley RidgeHiking · ~3 min drive
- Cliff Creek Trail 840Hiking · ~5 min drive
- Castle PassHiking · ~12 min drive
Best time to visit Kaufman Creek
Best months: June–August. 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.
Jan
26° / -7°
12 wet
Feb
29° / -2°
11 wet
Mar
38° / 7°
10 wet
Apr
47° / 19°
9 wet
May
58° / 28°
8 wet
Jun
70° / 34°
7 wet
Jul
76° / 40°
10 wet
Aug
74° / 38°
12 wet
Sep
66° / 31°
9 wet
Oct
54° / 22°
8 wet
Nov
39° / 9°
9 wet
Dec
27° / -4°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crested Butte, CO, 17.2 mi away at 8,867 ft. The station sits about 700 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.
