Colorado · Hiking · West Elk Wilderness

Lowline

10.6 mi
round trip
547 ft
climb
10,349 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Lowline open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Lowline, 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.

Lowline is a 10.6-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's West Elk Wilderness, within the Gunnison Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail climbs from a low point of 9,440 feet to a high of 10,349 feet, with a total elevation gain of 547 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surfaced and open to horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Crested Butte show July highs around 76°F and lows near 40°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-20s. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The hike is open from July 1 to September 30. Castle Pass lies just 0.1 mile away, and the Lowline Trail 438 mountain biking route is about half a mile off. For an overnight base, Kebler Pass Camping Area is roughly 6.7 miles away, and Splains Gulch Camping Area is about 7.3 miles away.

Local outfitters

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