Colorado · Hiking

Kilpacker

6.9 mi
round trip
987 ft
climb
10,310 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Kilpacker open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in San Juan National Forest. It doesn't name Kilpacker, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · San Juan National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Kilpacker is a hard hike in Colorado's San Juan National Forest, within the Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 6.9 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 987 feet, taking you from a low point of about 10,047 feet to a high of about 10,310 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Silverton show July highs around 75°F with lows near 38°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s and lows drop to about -6°F in January. That station sits roughly 1,000 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The trail is open from about June 15 to October 15, and the Kilpacker Trailhead is the parking for the route. Navajo Lake and Mount Wilson are both within a mile, and Burro Bridge Campground is about 1.6 miles away.