Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Upper Cherokee

Upper CherokeePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.4 mi
round trip
120 ft
climb
9,484 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Upper Cherokee open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.

As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Upper Cherokee is an easy out-and-back hike on Forest Service land in the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, about 1.35 miles long with a 120-foot elevation gain. The trail rises from a low point of 9,378 feet to a high point of 9,484 feet, making it a short, gentle climb rather than a serious ascent. The route is natural-surface, and it is open to both horses and bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Fraser, Colorado weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 38°F, and June and September are also mild. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The trip runs from the Winter Park Public Works Trailhead, and the hike is open from about June 1 to November 15. Lower Cherokee is just 0.1 mile away, and Eye to Eye, a mountain biking trail, is about 0.3 mile off. Idlewild Campground is 0.6 mile away for an overnight stay, and the Vasquez Road climbing area is about 1.2 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Idlewild Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.6 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Snoasis

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 14 mi from Idaho Springs

    Historic house-museum in Georgetown, Colorado, United States

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Idaho Springs

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Upper Cherokee

    Best months: June–August. 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

      31° / -1°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 2°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 11°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      51° / 20°

      8 wet

    5. May

      62° / 27°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 33°

      6 wet

    7. Jul

      77° / 38°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 37°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 29°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 21°

      7 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 10°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / -1°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fraser, CO, 3.6 mi away at 8,560 ft. The station sits about 900 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.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lower CherokeePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Cherokee

Next door

1.66-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 391 ft elevation gain.

Blue SkyPhoto: edcrowle, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Blue Sky

~1 min drive

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Jim CreekPhoto: halseike, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Jim Creek

~4 min drive

6.53-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,229 ft gain and 10,655 ft max elevation.

Lower Long TrailPhoto: aperturismo, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Long Trail

~1 min drive

1.39-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 400 ft elevation gain.

UPPER ELK CREEKPhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

UPPER ELK CREEK

~5 min drive

5.08-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 2,143 ft elevation gain and loss.

Chickadee TrailPhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Chickadee Trail

~1 min drive

0.94-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 190 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Eye to Eye

~1 min drive

4.32-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 860 ft gain and 9,931 ft max elevation.

SerenityPhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Serenity

~2 min drive

2.86-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 56 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Pinball Ridge

~3 min drive

5.87-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 487 ft elevation gain.

Twin BridgesPhoto: edcrowle, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Twin Bridges

~2 min drive

1.0 mi · Easy