Outdoors

Gore Range Getaway

An easy backpack escape for weekend adventurers.

Edited by Tom Winter July 15, 2016

More Flowers Than Woodstock

Aileen Winter leaves the day-hikers behind and gets into the colorful part of things enroute from Summit County over to Vail. There are a variety of trailheads on the Summit side of the Gore, meaning plenty of options for those who want to do one or two night trips over the range and into the Vail area.

Crossing Over

High alpine meadows lead the way to a weakness in the range as Aileen works her way from the eastern side of the mountains to the western slopes that lead down to Vail. Behind her is Red Buffalo Pass, the key to easily crossing over to the western slopes of the Gore from the eastern heights of the range that rise above Frisco and Silverthorn.

High Alpine Beauty

The peaks of the Gore remain unspoiled and relatively unknown in part because none of them exceed the magic 14,000 ft mark that attracts so many hikers. The highest peak, Mt. Powell, sits at the North end of the range, at an elevation of 13,534 ft. Meanwhile, the many lesser peaks, like the unnamed mountain shown here, are worthy summits, with elevations between 12 and 13,000 feet

Solitude and Peace

On the western side of the Gore, the solitude is even more intense, as many day hikers lack the will to travel to the highest meadows and more remote peaks. Campgrounds are plentiful and the only sound you'll hear is the wind and your own voices.

Colorado's Gore Range divides Summit and Eagle Counties and the resort towns of Dillon and Frisco on the eastern side of the range along with Vail on the west. With convenient trailheads, easy access from both sides of the range and mountain locals who ranks as some of the most active in the nation, you’d expect the Gore to be crowded. After all, the hiking and backpacking is spectacular and most of the range has been protected with a federal Wilderness designation. Meaning, of course, that the Gore is about as close to pristine as anyplace on the planet.

But the reality is that as spectacular as these mountains are, they get surprising little use compared to many recreation areas in the state. Because of this, it’s worth taking a second look at this jagged and spectacular range. And the best way to get up close and personal with the high peaks, alpine lakes and babbling streams of the Gore is to throw on a backpack and make a night – or two of it. Add in the opportunity to hike across the range from Summit to Eagle counties (using a car shuttle), and you have a moderately challenging weekend trip that can be done by those who haven’t spent much time backpacking in Colorado’s great outdoors.

Resources:

Topographic maps, trail conditions and more information can be obtained from the US Forest Service’s regional offices. For the east side of the Gore, contact the Dillon Ranger District. For trails on the west side of the range, contact the Holy Cross Ranger District.

Dillon Ranger District
680 River Parkway
Silverthorne, CO 80498 Phone: 970-468-5400

Holy Cross Ranger District
P.O. Box 190, 24747 US HWY 24
Minturn, CO, 81645 Phone: 970-827-5715

Summer Fun, Adventure, Outdoors