Colorado · Hiking · Near Idaho Springs

Whiteside

WhitesidePhoto: jaygannett, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
4.2 mi
round trip
930 ft
climb
9,819 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun, Sep
best months

Is Whiteside open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 8 alerts for Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

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

Whiteside is a hard hike in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests, within the South Platte Ranger District. The trail is an out-and-back of about 4.2 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 930 feet, starting at a low point of 8,887 feet and reaching a high of 9,819 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Grant, CO, run to highs around 75°F in July, with lows near 43°F. That station sits about 1,100 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The Threemile Trailhead is the parking for this route, and the trail is open year-round. Geneva Creek lies just 0.1 mile away, and the North Fork South Platte River offers canoeing about 1.6 miles off. Burning Bear Campground is about 2.5 miles away, and the Terminal Moraine Interp Loop is about 2.3 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Whiteside Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsUser:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Hamill House Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 16 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

Go with a guide

  • Best time to go · Jun, Sep

    Best time to visit Whiteside

    Best months: June and September. 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

      34° / 9°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / 9°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 16°

      8 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 22°

      9 wet

    5. May

      59° / 30°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 38°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 43°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      72° / 42°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 35°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 25°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 16°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 9°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grant, CO, 1.5 mi away at 8,675 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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

Terminal Moraine Interp LoopPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Terminal Moraine Interp Loop

~4 min drive

0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 27 ft of elevation gain.

Epaulet MountainPhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Epaulet Mountain

~4 min drive

Route to the summit of Epaulet Mountain (13,537 ft) from Burning Bear / Abyss Lake Trailhead.

Abyss LakePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Abyss Lake

~4 min drive

16.86-mile out-and-back to Abyss Lake in Colorado's Pike and San Isabel National Forests.

Mount Blue Sky RidgePhoto: gregor_y, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Blue Sky Ridge

~15 min drive

4.34-mile out-and-back hike on Mount Blue Sky Ridge in Colorado, 1,096 ft gain, 14,170 ft max elevation.

Sawtooth Ridge TraversePhoto: versute, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sawtooth Ridge Traverse

~12 min drive

1.40-mile trail in Colorado with 800 ft gain and 12,800 ft max elevation.

Mount EdwardsPhoto: QKC, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Mount Edwards

~18 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Edwards (13,839 ft) from Argentine Pass Trailhead.

Mount Blue SkyPhoto: regexman, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mount Blue Sky

~15 min drive

Standard route to Mount Blue Sky (14,264 ft) from Summit Lake.

Silver Dollar LakePhoto: kalestews, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Silver Dollar Lake

~15 min drive

4.16-mile out-and-back to Silver Dollar Lake in Colorado at 12,199 ft.

HIKE

Buno Connector

~8 min drive

1.74-mile out-and-back trail in Colorado with 153 ft gain.

HIKE

Mount Wilcox

~18 min drive

Route to the summit of Mount Wilcox (13,163 ft) from Argentine Pass Trailhead.