Colorado · Hiking

North Elk

9.4 mi
round trip
1,889 ft
climb
9,325 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is North Elk open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

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

North Elk is a moderate out-and-back hike on Forest Service land in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Blanco Ranger District. It's about 9.4 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of roughly 1,900 feet, carrying you from a low point of about 7,300 feet to a high of about 9,300 feet. Horses are allowed on this trail, which has a natural surface, but bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Yampa weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 46°F. That station sits well below the route, so temperatures up high run cooler. Maryland Creek is the closest neighbor, under a mile away, and Prospect Draw and Gilley Lake are both within about 3 miles. For an overnight base, South Fork Campground is about 5 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit North Elk

    Best months: May–September. 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

      32° / 7°

      12 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 17°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      52° / 24°

      11 wet

    5. May

      62° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 40°

      8 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 46°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 45°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 37°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 27°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 17°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      32° / 8°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Yampa, CO, 43.1 mi away at 7,857 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.