Ute Peak
- 27.2 mi
- round trip
- 4,131 ft
- climb
- 12,494 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Ute Peak open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 3 alerts for Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests · USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Fire Restrictions
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
Permanent Recreational Shooting Order
Agency alert covering Sulphur Ranger District · Order 02-10-00-25-02 · USFS · Sulphur Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Ute Peak is a hard hike in the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 27 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 4,100 feet from a low point of about 8,880 feet to the summit at about 12,494 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes, according to the Forest Service's trail records. That makes it a viable option for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. South Fork Campground and the South Fork Group Site sit about 1.6 miles away, and the Kinney Creek and Williams Fork Boardwalk hikes are each within about 1.7 miles. For paddling, Williams Fork is about 4.5 miles off.
Go with a guide
- Mineral Belt Trail Guided WalkRoamze · $25 per person · 41 mi away
- Camp Always Choose Adventures26 mi away
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)KINNEY CREEK
~3 min drive
2.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 358 ft elevation gain
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Darling Creek
~3 min drive
10.47-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 3,181 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Ute Pass
~5 min drive
4.9 mi · Moderate
Photo: jtsmmm, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Williams Fork Boardwalk
~3 min drive
1.21-mile out-and-back boardwalk trail in Colorado's Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
HIKE
Ute Peak
~14 min drive
25 mi · Hard
HIKE
Acorn Creek Trail
~6 min drive
1.7-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,841 ft gain and 11,342 ft max elevation
Photo: devriesm, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Upper Pioneer Creek
~12 min drive
1.29-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 355 ft elevation gain
HIKE
South Fork
~3 min drive
23.93-mile loop trail in Colorado with 2,938 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
KINNEY CREEK
~6 min drive
3.18-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 1,088 ft gain and 10,399 ft max elevation.
Photo: devriesm, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bushee Creek
~13 min drive
1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 712 ft gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 27.2 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 4,131 ft
- Starts at
- Ute Peak Trailhead (about 8,880 ft)
- Summit
- 12,496 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
Getting there
Park at Ute Peak Trailhead.
Other routes up Ptarmigan Peak
Questions about this route
How long is the Ute Peak on Ptarmigan Peak?
About 27.2 mi round trip from Ute Peak Trailhead (about 8,880 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Ute Peak?
About 4,131 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Ute Peak?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Ute Peak start?
Ute Peak Trailhead (about 8,880 ft).
How many routes go up Ptarmigan Peak?
3: Ptarmigan Peak, Ute Peak and Ute Peak.
Conditions and forecast on Ptarmigan Peak
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
