Colorado · Hiking

Middle Fork Escalante

18.9 mi
round trip
1,995 ft
climb
8,626 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Middle Fork Escalante open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Middle Fork Escalante is a hard hike of about 19 miles in the Ouray Ranger District of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests in Colorado. The trail starts at the Middle Point Escalante Trailhead and is an out-and-back route that climbs from a low point of about 6,600 feet to a high point of about 8,600 feet, with an elevation gain of roughly 2,000 feet. The trail is on natural surface, and it is open from June 1 to October 31. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Norwood weather station, which sits about 1,600 feet below the trail, show July highs around 85°F with lows near 53°F. September is milder, with highs around 75°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 39°F and snow on about five days a month. Dinosaur Quarry is about 2 miles away and North Kelso is about 2.4 miles away. For climbing, Zappa Wall is about 5 miles off, and Escalante Creek, a canoeing route, is about 8.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Middle Fork Escalante

    Best months: May–October. 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

      39° / 13°

      5 wet · 5 snow

    2. Feb

      43° / 18°

      5 wet · 4 snow

    3. Mar

      52° / 25°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 31°

      5 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      69° / 38°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 46°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 53°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 51°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 44°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      62° / 34°

      6 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      50° / 23°

      5 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      39° / 14°

      4 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Norwood, CO, 31.2 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.