Colorado · Ski touring · Near Leadville

Pika

PikaPhoto: Dusty Wright, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.5 mi
distance
882 ft
climb
12,136 ft
high point

Is Pika 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.

Pika is a ski touring objective in Colorado's White River National Forest, within the Dillon Ranger District, about half a mile from the Breckenridge climbing area. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is a short, steep climb. The trip rises about 880 feet in roughly half a mile, from a low of about 11,210 feet to a high of about 12,136 feet. The steepest stretch comes near the beginning, with a grade of nearly 48 percent. The climb is short enough to fit into a single outing. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from the Climax weather station, about 9 miles away, run to a high of 67°F and a low of 40°F, with no snow days. Winter is long and snowy, with highs in the mid-20s and snow on about half the days from December through February. Nearby, Columbine is a ski touring spot about 0.7 miles away, and the Breckenridge climbing area is about 0.4 miles off. The Blue River, a canoeing spot about 2.4 miles away, and Raspberry Boulders, a climbing area about 2.7 miles away, round out the options.

Around this trail

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

    Breckenridge Area

    Campground

    Campground · 3.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Broken Spoke

    Bar

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rainsPlazak, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Matchless Mine

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Plazak, CC BY 3.0 (commons)

More in Leadville

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Pika

    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, 9 mi away at 11,344 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more snow worth the drive

ColumbinePhoto: Skivacations, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Columbine

~1 min drive

Brief beginner-friendly Colorado ski trail perfect for short outings.

BreckenridgePhoto: 좀비 브렌다, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Breckenridge

~1 min drive

Breckenridge is a ski area in Colorado with 35 lifts, 128 runs, and 3,256 ft vertical drop.

Morning GloryPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Morning Glory

~3 min drive

0.64-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 174 ft of elevation gain.

Gluteus MaximusPhoto: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 au (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gluteus Maximus

~3 min drive

0.76-mile route in Colorado with 327 ft of elevation gain.

Gold DiggerPhoto: Thomson200, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gold Digger

~3 min drive

Gold Digger is a 0.33-mile trail in Colorado with 67 feet of elevation gain.

Wheeler Lakes TrailPhoto: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wheeler Lakes Trail

~9 min drive

0.45-mile trail in Colorado with 85 ft of elevation gain.

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

Mount Baldy Road

~10 min drive

Moderate 2.74-mile road-based ski tour in Colorado with steady climbing.

Copper MountainPhoto: Jarrod Doll from United States of America, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Copper Mountain

~6 min drive

Copper Mountain is a ski area in Colorado with 147 runs and 23 lifts.

ShortcutPhoto: Skivacations, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Shortcut

~3 min drive

0.26-mile ski trail in Colorado with 137 ft of elevation gain.

Hang TenPhoto: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 au (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hang Ten

~3 min drive

Hang Ten is a 0.35-mile cross-country ski trail in Colorado with 42 feet of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors