Colorado · Cross-country skiing · Near Clifton

Summit Trail

Summit TrailPhoto: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.5 mi
distance
120 ft
climb
10,722 ft
high point
Hard
difficulty
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Summit Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It doesn't name Summit Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Summit Trail is a cross-country skiing route in Colorado's Grand Valley Ranger District, part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. It is a short outing of about 1.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of 120 feet. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail gains about 120 feet from the start at roughly 10,694 feet to a high point of 10,722 feet, and it has a steeper stretch at about 0.8 miles in. The route also has a total loss of 206 feet, so it isn't strictly an ascent. Summer is the most comfortable time for a visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 68°F with lows near 42°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-20s with lows around 6°F in January. That station sits about 900 feet lower, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Sunset, a nearby cross-country ski area, and SKYWAY SKI SUMMIT, a hike, both lie about 0.1 mile away. Spruce Grove Campground is about 1.3 miles off, and Grand Mesa, a fishing spot, is about 3.8 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Spruce Grove Campground - Grand Valley RD

    Campground

    Campground · 1.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Slopeside cafe

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 5 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Clifton

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Summit Trail

    Best months: June–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

      26° / 6°

    2. Feb

      27° / 4°

    3. Mar

      34° / 12°

    4. Apr

      40° / 17°

    5. May

      49° / 27°

    6. Jun

      62° / 37°

    7. Jul

      68° / 42°

    8. Aug

      64° / 40°

    9. Sep

      57° / 34°

    10. Oct

      45° / 24°

    11. Nov

      34° / 14°

    12. Dec

      26° / 5°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bonham Rsvr, CO, 9.2 mi away at 9,852 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.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors