Colorado · Hiking · Uncompahgre Wilderness · Near Telluride

Matterhorn

4.5 mi
round trip
2,293 ft
climb
12,512 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Matterhorn open right now?

Closure in the area

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

The Matterhorn is a 4.5-mile out-and-back hike in Colorado's Uncompahgre Wilderness, within the Ouray Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and rated moderate, with a one-way elevation gain of 937 feet and a total round-trip gain of 2,293 feet. The high point is 12,512 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.97 miles in, with a 25% grade. The route starts at 12,461 feet and ends at 11,560 feet, so the climb is roughly equal to the descent. Horses are allowed, but the trail is not accessible, and bikes are not. It is open year-round, and the estimated time is about 2.5 hours. Nearby, the Wetterhorn Peak Trail #256 is 0.7 miles away, and the Ridgestock Short Cut mountain biking route is 0.4 miles off. Climbers can head to the Wetterhorn Trail Boulders, about 3.9 miles away, and paddlers will find Henson Creek at 4.7 miles.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Nellie Creek

    Campground

    Campground · 5.3 mi from the trail
  • If it rains

    Smuggler Union Tramhouse

    Attraction

    On your way back · 18 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Telluride

Local outfitters

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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Wetterhorn Peak Trail #256Photo: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wetterhorn Peak Trail #256

~1 min drive

2.62-mile out-and-back to Wetterhorn Peak with 1,304 ft gain

MATTERHORN CUTOFFPhoto: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

MATTERHORN CUTOFF

~2 min drive

2.12-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 960 ft gain and 12,265 ft max elevation.

Big Blue CreekPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Big Blue Creek

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Silver MountainPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silver Mountain

~6 min drive

Route to the summit of Silver Mountain (13,701 ft) from Nellie Creek Trailhead.

Broken HillPhoto: John Sowell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Broken Hill

~4 min drive

Route to the summit of Broken Hill (13,215 ft) from Matterhorn Trailhead.

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

Courthouse Mountain

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HIKE

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Sheep MountainPhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sheep Mountain

~6 min drive

Route to the summit of Sheep Mountain (13,176 ft) from Nellie Creek Trailhead.

CourthousePhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Courthouse

~11 min drive

11-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 545 ft elevation gain.

Engineer Mountain TrailPhoto: WKHarmon, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Engineer Mountain Trail

~14 min drive

2.38-mile out-and-back hike to 13,170 ft in Colorado.