Colorado · Hiking · Mount Zirkel Wilderness

Swamp Park

20.7 mi
round trip
2,106 ft
climb
9,456 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Swamp Park open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District. It doesn't name Swamp Park, 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.

Swamp Park is a hard hike in Colorado's Mount Zirkel Wilderness, within the Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 6,775 feet to 9,456 feet, a total gain of 2,106 feet over a route of about 20.7 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's natural surface and horse-friendly status make it a viable option for riders as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Spicer, CO, run to highs around 77°F in July with lows near 42°F, and the station sits roughly 1,070 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The Mad Creek Trailhead is the parking for this route, and the trip is open year-round. Mad Creek, a canoeing spot, lies just 0.2 miles away, and the Elk Park and Saddle Cutoff Trail hikes are within about 2 miles. For an overnight base, Dry Lake Campground is about 5.7 miles off.