Colorado · Ski touring

Buffalo Mountain Trail

Buffalo Mountain TrailPhoto: Nathan Anderson nathananderson, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
2.5 mi
distance
2,804 ft
climb
12,779 ft
high point

Is Buffalo Mountain Trail open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 6 alerts for White River National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · White River National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Buffalo Mountain Trail is a ski touring route in Colorado's Eagles Nest Wilderness, within the Dillon Ranger District of White River National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. It starts at about 10,000 feet and climbs roughly 2,800 feet over about 2.5 miles to reach 12,779 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.3 miles in, where the grade reaches 50 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. July typically averages highs near 67°F and lows around 40°F, with no snow days, based on typical averages from the nearby Climax weather station. Winter there is cold and snowy, with January highs near 27°F and about 15 snow days in the month. Buffalo Mountain and the Buffalo / S. Willow Connect hike both lie about 0.1 mile away. For an overnight, Heaton Bay Campground and Old Dillon Reservoir #87 are each about 2.7 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Buffalo Mountain Trail

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    2. Feb

      29° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    3. Mar

      35° / 8°

      14 wet · 14 snow

    4. Apr

      40° / 15°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      49° / 25°

      10 wet · 8 snow

    6. Jun

      61° / 34°

      8 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      67° / 40°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      64° / 39°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      58° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      47° / 21°

      9 wet · 7 snow

    11. Nov

      35° / 11°

      12 wet · 12 snow

    12. Dec

      27° / 3°

      15 wet · 15 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Climax, CO, 18.1 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors