Colorado · Hiking · Near Telluride

Swamp Canyon

Swamp CanyonPhoto: sdingle, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.6 mi
round trip
2,758 ft
climb
12,915 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Swamp Canyon open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Swamp Canyon is a hard hike in Colorado's Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, within the Norwood Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 10,100 feet to about 12,900 feet, with a total elevation gain of 2,758 feet over a distance of about 6.6 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is named Swamp Canyon Trailhead, with parking at the SWAMP CANYON site. The trail is open year-round, and the route is natural-surfaced. Bikes and horses are both allowed, so the trip works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The trail starts close to several other destinations. Wasatch Mountain is about 0.4 miles away and Oscar's Peak about 0.8 miles. Alta Lakes Camping Area and the dispersed camping at Alta Lakes Campground are both about 2.7 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Alta Lakes Camping Area

    Campground

    Campground · 2.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    La Marmotte

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi
  • If it rains

    Little Hawaii Grotto

    Attraction

    In town

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

Wasatch MountainPhoto: sdingle, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wasatch Mountain

Next door

Route to the summit of Wasatch Mountain (13,540 ft) from Bridal Veil Basin Trailhead.

Swamp CanyonPhoto: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Swamp Canyon

~1 min drive

4.0-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,549 ft elevation gain and loss.

Ice LakePhoto: snowpeak, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Ice Lake

~6 min drive

7.49-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado's San Juan National Forest with 2,462 ft gain.

Magic Meadows LoopPhoto: dougandme, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Magic Meadows Loop

~7 min drive

0.86-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 92 ft of elevation gain.

Vermilion PeakPhoto: Dave Lyskawa (talk · contribs), Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Vermilion Peak

~9 min drive

Route to the summit of Vermilion Peak (13,819 ft) from Lake Hope Trailhead.

SunshinePhoto: dougandme, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Sunshine

~8 min drive

3.53-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,183 ft elevation gain.

Silver LakePhoto: Daniel Weber, Public Domain Dedication (CC0) (via Flickr)

Silver Lake

~8 min drive

2.01-mile out-and-back trail to Silver Lake in Colorado at 11,789 ft elevation.

P LAKE SKI MID MEADOW LOOP 2Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

P LAKE SKI MID MEADOW LOOP 2

~7 min drive

1.1-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 431 ft elevation gain.

Golden HornPhoto: snowpeak, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Golden Horn

~7 min drive

Route to the summit of Golden Horn (13,740 ft) from Ice Lakes Trailhead Parking.

HIKE

East Fork Bear Creek

~5 min drive

2.44-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,089 ft elevation gain.