Despite being the last full weekend of August, small patches of snow were still visible from the past winter. If you choose to stay on the side that the parking lot is on, you have even more choices to pick from. I was hiking with Dad when we finally learned how to pronounce Berthoud Pass. United States › ... Mount Flora. All Rights Reserved. Mount Flora from Berthoud Pass Trailhead. You can either choose to embark on either the Berthoud Pass Trail or the Stanley Mountain Trail. Flora Trail ( Part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail) Starting Elevation: 11,315FT. From Denver, take I70 west to US40 north through Empire and up the switchbacks to the summit of Berthoud Pass. I am not a Republican. With that in mind, I would definitely recommend dressing in layers simply for that reason. If you’re wondering where to hike in Colorado that only the locals know about, you might start with any of the following trails: Centennial Cone Trail, Mount Audubon from Mitchell Lake Trailhead, Square Top Mountain from Guanella Pass, Mount Flora from Berthoud Pass Trailhead, Herman Gulch to Herman Lake, and Mount Sniktau from Loveland Pass. As the road makes it’s first swooping right hand turn before heading up to Berthoud, turn left off of US-40, and follow signs to the Jones Pass parking lot. Considering that it was still really nice outside, I was quite surprised to find plenty of parking spots too. Flora Trail ( Part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail) Starting Elevation: 11,315FT. Aug 28, 2013 - The Continental Divide Trail at Berthoud Pass is a hike that will take you from the trailhead to above treeline offering spectacular views of the For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. Trail Map | Photo Gallery I had no interest in doing an out-and-back of these 13ers, hoping instead to find a loop. Trailhead Location: From Denver, take I-70 west to the Empire exit. It is a class 1, with the tiniest bit of class 2, making it doable for families and most in-shape doggos. ount Flora as seen from the summit of Colorado Mines Peak. At the pass, you will find plenty of parking and restrooms. If you look down directly below into the valley, you will see Ethel lake which is fed from all of the runoff coming off of the nearby mountains. MODERATE 5.3 mi. Because I didn’t really have any kind of specific plan for that day, I decided to just walk around at the trailhead and see what kinds of trails were accessible via Berthoud Pass before I made any kind of final decision. View all posts by David Higham. 5. © Earthly Wanderer, 2018- 2019. Mount Flora from Berthoud Pass Trailhead. About an hour later I found myself at Berthoud Pass outside of Winter Park, Colorado. I scoured topo maps to plan a route, and came up with this trip. Most people seem to approach Mount Flora and the subsequent traverse to James Peak by coming up from Colorado Mines Peak via Berthoud Pass. Eva is one of the summits that's part of the highly visible group of mountains when one is driving west out of Denver on I-70 and crossing the Floyd Hill area. You’ll find the trailhead in Berthoud Pass on Highway 40, at mile-marker 243. Berthoud Pass via West Park Avenue. It’s kind of crazy to think about considering how hot it was over the course of the entire summer, Nonetheless, the trail meanders its way up the mountain and you can even see people further off into the distance. During the last full weekend of this past August, I decided to just pack up all my hiking gear in the car and set out for an adventure. However, I had plenty of time and decided to make this hike as worthwhile as I possibly could. --Scott Patterson. EASY 1.7 mi. The majority of the skiing is on the leeward side of the divide. 6. Ending Elevation: 13,100FT (Total Elevation Gain 1800Ft) Trail Length: 6.4 miles officially, my fitbit said 7.5 miles. 4. Once there, you simply have to carefully cross the highway and follow the trail as it begins its ascent into the Vasquez Peak Wilderness Area. Jul 16, 2016 - ProTrails | Mt Flora, Berthoud Pass Trailhead, Summit County - Eagle County - Clear Creek County, Colorado The trail starts at Berthoud Pass over 11,000 ft and quickly gains the ridge of the Continental Divide. Stanley Mountain. The Mount Flora and Colorado Mines Peak begins at the Berthoud Pass Trailhead, located at—latitude 39.797783°, longitude -105.776713°. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. 30 Sep. Continental Divide Trail > Mines Peak Road > Mt. It stands high over Ethel Lake and the Mad Creek drainage with exceptional views in all directions. 7. Berthoud Pass via West Park Avenue. 6.2 mi / 1738 ft gain My friend Austin and I hiked up to Mt Flora last year on what was probably the coldest day ever. 8. Flora stands at a lofty 13,146 ft and is a great intro to climbing peaks in Colorado. There is a large parking lot on the east side US-40 W. This parking area will accommodate approximately 100 vehicles. The closer I got to the summit, I was beginning to hear pikas and even had a marmot run right in front of me across the trail. Images If you cross Route 40 from the parking lot, you have several options. We headed to Mount Flora, the longest stretch above treeline without a summit for a bit. The Colorado Mines Peak Trail is a fairly short hike if you don’t have a whole lot of time but still want that feeling of being high amongst the mountains and is on the way to the summit of Mount Flora. Arapaho National Forest Hike. The summit of Berthoud Pass is the epicenter of backcountry skiing on this part of the Front Range. Description: The Berthoud Pass Trailhead is located on the Continental Divide about 1.5 hours drive west of Denver. Approximately 10 miles with 1200 feet to Colorado Mines peak, 1000 feet to Mount Flora and 1400 feet to Mount Eva and back to Mount Flora. The summit can actually be seen when you are heading west on Interstate 70 from Denver in the vicinity of Floyd Hill. Eva combines easily with Parry peak and Mt. From the trailhead we worked our way up a steady climb up several ridges to Mount Flora (13,113). This hike is simply beautiful. With that being said, I chose to take the Mount Flora trail and possibly go even further than that if both time and weather permitted. Berthoud Pass Trail is a 6.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Winter Park, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. This airy alpine trek climbs steeply through treeline then levels in open tundra for two miles to the summit. cjleggere 1 year, 2 months ago My flora. Flora Trail" (really the CDT), which will take you off of the fire road and on a more direct route up to the ridgeline. From the top of Mount Flora we watched the thunderheads slowly gathering. The total distance from Colorado Mines Peak to Mount Flora is 1.9 miles with 350 feet of elevation loss and about 1000 feet of elevation gain. Mount Flora. At the summit, you will notice some rock wind shelters as well as some cairns. Additionally, you will also see that you can hike further onto other peaks such as Mount Eva, Parry Peak as well as Mount Bancroft. The only area that you might possibly need them would be for navigating a small area closer towards the summit where some boulders can be found. Colorado Mines Peak - 12493 feet ranked 1005. It ended up being absolutely wonderful. The summit of Mount Flora is 13,146 feet. Mount Eva - 13130 feet ranked 544. The site contains a warming hut with vault toilets, interpretive information, and is open year round. There is a large parking lot and a small building with restrooms and a warm room that you can use to gear up on cold day. Flora for a three-peak day that can get you back to your Front Range home well before dinner. Nick Sangetta hikes Mount Flora, Mount Eva and Parry Peak from Berthoud Pass in the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado on August 20, 2019. After a delicious breakfast at the Rise and Shine Cafe, we returned to the trailhead at Berthoud Pass. Upon reaching the summit, you will see a trail that leads further down that if taken will lead you to Bill Moore Lake. It does get quite windy so make sure to dress accordingly and to keep an eye out for changing weather conditions as well. The total distance from Berthoud Pass to Mount Flora is 3.6 miles one way with about 2200 feet total elevation gain and 350 … Colorado Mines Peak is … . The summit can actually be seen when you are heading west on Interstate 70 from Denver in the vicinity of Floyd Hill. Flora significantly less taxing of a climb than the majority of the 13,000-foot peaks in the Rocky Mountains. Dogs are also able to … + TRAILHEAD. MODERATE 3.1 mi. 3. Trail Map | Photo Gallery Moderate grades make Mt Flora among the most accessible 13ers in the Winter Park area. EASY 3.7 mi. DIFFICULT 9.1 mi. Flora begins at Berthoud Pass. (3), Climber's Log Entries The trail has easy access and a high elevation trailhead that makes Mt. Mt Flora (13,132’) is located 3.2 miles from Berthoud Pass along the Continental Divide Trail. Mount Flora is an obscure 13er located on the Continental Divide north of Berthoud Pass. The total distance from Berthoud Pass to Mount Flora is 3.6 miles one way with about 2200 feet total elevation gain and 350 feet elevation loss. Although I did not get a chance to hike further on that day due to time constraints, I do plan on going back sometime soon. Overview. Follow 40 up to the summit of Berthoud Pass and park on the east side of the pass. Trailhead: The TH is at the north end of the large parking area. Stanley Mountain can be accessed from Berthoud Pass just off of US Highway 40. EASY 1.3 mi. There … As you can see from the photos, this hike is not too difficult and can easily be done without the help of trekking poles. UTM NAD83 433568e 4405662n 11,324’ Trail: 3.3 miles to Mt Flora summit (13,132 feet). Overall, this was a really enjoyable hike along the Continental Divide and I look forward to doing it again in the near future as well as going further onto the other nearby peaks. Location: Arapaho National Forest, near Berthoud Pass, Colorado Access: From Interstate 70 west of Idaho Springs, take Exit 308 and head west on Hwy 40 for 15 miles and park at the parking area at Berthoud Pass. Mount Flora Trail is a 6 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Idaho Springs, Colorado that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Unfortunately, no members of the party are politicians." It is also to possible to continue over the ridge north from the summit passing over Mount Eva, Perry Peak, and James Peak. Keep an eye out for a small sign at the corner of one of the switchbacks for "Mt. Mount Flora Trail-Berthoud Pass/ Between Winter Park & Empire 9/29/12 ( Our first 13ner!!!!) The trail to Mt. Roundtrip, this hike is 6.5 miles and will take you (in the summer) through fields of alpine wildflowers as you climb into Colorado’s high country along the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). From here, you still have quite a way to go before reaching the summit. Mount Flora is 13,146 feet in elevation and is rated as a class 2 mountain. Mt. It was 9 degrees at the Berthoud Pass parking lot and we had 32mph winds nearly the whole way. Mount Flora Trail-Berthoud Pass/ Between Winter Park & Empire 9/29/12 ( Our first 13ner!!!!) Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to David Higham and Earthly Wanderer with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. View Mount Flora from Berthoud Pass Image Gallery - 3 Images. © 2006-2020 SummitPost.org. 30 Sep. Continental Divide Trail > Mines Peak Road > Mt. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Take US 40 towards Winter Park. Having driven past it numerous times, I figured today might as well be the day that I stop and explore this particular area. Mt Flora. Berthoud Pass Summit (11,300’) Access Mines Peak from the Berthoud Pass parking at the top of the pass. Berthoud Pass is a saddle inside of Arapaho National Forest. Flora. Jun 27, 2020 - ProTrails | Mt Flora, Berthoud Pass Trailhead, Summit County - Eagle County - Clear Creek County, Colorado After you get through the switchbacks, the trail becomes quite well defined and you really start to get an idea about where you are going. Stanley Mountain is located 3.85 miles west of Berthoud Pass along the Continental Divide Trail. In addition to that, it also starts to become much windier with each passing step. Mount Flora is 13,146 feet in elevation and is rated as a class 2 mountain. I had been wanting to snowshoe in the Jones Pass area for quite some time. It offers a variety of summer and winter activities, including wildflower viewing. But before you do anything, make sure to take sometime and take in the scenery from the summit. A backpacking family of 5 informed us with a chuckle, “It’s BIRTH-ed”.The next day, after hiking back to the Jeep while Dad continued onward, I drove ahead to Berthoud Pass, essentially a parking lot at 11,307 feet that would become my home for the next three nights. I had no specific trail in mind that morning and a full tank of gas. Several locals out hiking there commented that they have never seen this much snow linger into July. kimberlyharmon 1 year ago Mt Flora. From the Berthoud Pass Trailhead, the round trip distance is just under 6.5 miles with a net elevation gain of 1,825 feet. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. "I am not a Democrat. Park in the large parking area. Before too long, the numerous mountains nearby started to become more visible offering excellent views. Approximately 3 hours and change from Berthoud parking (11400 feet) to Mount Eva via Mines Peak and Flora. Good trail conditions and mild grades are ideal for families, an acclimation hike and winter travel. Snowshoe Mount Flora. Trailhead Lat/Long: 39º 47' 54" N; 105º 46' 35" W Managing Agency: U.S. Forest Service Fee: None Berthoud Pass Trailhead Webpage (USFS) Directions: The hike up Colorado Mines Peak starts from Berthoud Pass (11,307ft). An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. MUSIC: Marvel83' - 80's Night Big Game Hunter - … I belong to the common sense party. Spending time in nature calms my soul. It does get quite windy so make sure to dress accordingly and to keep an eye out for changing weather conditions as well. Ever? The mountain is quite accessible from the pass and the high trailhead plus the high vantage point makes Flora a great location for a quick excursion. Summit Elevation 13,146ft | Class 1-2 | 6.1 miles | Elevation Gain 1,797ft | Hike Details; This is probably the easiest hike on my list as far as mileage and elevation gain are concerned. A hiking blog involving a lot of wandering. Ending Elevation: 13,100FT (Total Elevation Gain 1800Ft) Trail Length: 6.4 miles officially, my fitbit said 7.5 miles. (4). Ski or Snowboard Berthoud Pass Colorado. Start at the Berthoud Pass parking lot. From the CDT to the CT. Look for the Continental Divide NST trail markers and the signs pointing to Mt. Of interest, the actual summit of Flora is the closed loop north of where it's marked on all the maps I've seen. This is visually higher, and you'll find a register there. 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