Colorado · Hiking

North Fork Elkhead

11.0 mi
round trip
1,618 ft
climb
9,122 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is North Fork Elkhead open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name North Fork Elkhead, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

North Fork Elkhead is a 11-mile out-and-back hike in the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The trail climbs from a low point of 7,421 feet to a high of 9,122 feet, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,618 feet. It is a hard route, and its natural surface makes it accessible to horses and bikes as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Spicer put July highs around 77°F and lows near 42°F, while winter highs there stay in the upper 20s. The trail starts at the North Fork Elkhead Trailhead, which is open year-round. The Sawmill hike lies just 0.2 miles away, and Bears Ears and Black Mountain are both within about 4 miles. For an overnight base, Freeman Reservoir Campground sits roughly 8 miles off.