North Kelso
- 13.5 mi
- round trip
- 808 ft
- climb
- 8,879 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is North Kelso open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name North Kelso, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Gold Mountain Wildfire Roads and Trails Closure Order v 4.0
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Ophir Pass Road Closure
Agency closure covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
TERMINATION OF ORDER - FIRE RESTRICTIONS
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Dallas Area Closure order
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Island Lake Road Closure
Agency alert covering Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests · USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
North Kelso is a hard hike in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. The route is an out-and-back of about 13.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 808 feet from a low point of 7,988 feet to a high of 8,879 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses. The trail is rated hard, and it is not open to bikes. The open season runs from June 1 to October 31. Nearby, Middle Fork Escalante and Long Point are both hikes within about 3 miles. Dinosaur Quarry is about 4.4 miles away, and the Zappa Wall climbing area is about 6.6 miles off.
Local outfitters
- CampV24 mi away
- Cedar Creek RV Park and Lodging34 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Middle Fork Escalante
~4 min drive
18.91-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,995 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Long Point
~5 min drive
6.18-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado managed by Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
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Short Point Bench
~11 min drive
5.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 625 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
BLM 052/053 (McCarty Trail)
~11 min drive
24.28-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,987 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Kelso Mesa
~9 min drive
9.83-mile out-and-back trail on Kelso Mesa in Colorado, 207 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Dinosaur Quarry
~8 min drive
0.66-mile out-and-back trail at Dinosaur Quarry in Colorado
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SHORT POINT CUTOFF
~12 min drive
4.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,378 ft gain/loss
HIKE
LONG CANYON
~21 min drive
19.88-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,670 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
South Bench
~9 min drive
18.19-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado managed by Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
HIKE
Bear Pen Spur 1B
~11 min drive
1.86-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 295 ft of elevation gain.
