| Runs and Hikes
in the Vail Area |
| Note that the times and distances for
these off road adventures assume leaving on foot from the Lionshead
Parking Structure and running, not walking, so plan your trail times
accordingly if you move at hiking pace or if you shorten the runs by
driving closer to trailheads to reduce the distances. |
| Name of Run |
Estimated Mileage |
Round Trip Time |
Comments |
Elevation Gain/Loss |
| Vail Mountain Top |
20 miles |
3.5-4.5 hours |
Follow any of the mountain roads up past Mid-Vail. Head towards
Eagle's Nest. Halfway to the top of the gondola the road forks to the left and up. Stay on
road to top of mountain and then return. |
3,000 feet |
| Berry Picker Trail |
12 miles |
2.5-3.5 hours |
Access the main trailhead near the Vista Bahn in Vail Village or join
it from Gitalong Road if you start in Lionshead |
2,000 feet |
| Pitkin/Booth Lakes |
21 miles |
5.5-7.0 hours |
Run along the frontage road to East Vail. Head up the Pitkin Creek
Trail to the lake. Behind the lake head up and over the pass and down to
Booth Creek. Then downhill to the Booth Creek trailhead and back to the
village. |
4,000 feet |
| West to East Grouse |
25-30 miles |
6.5-8.5 hours |
Drive to the Grouse Creek trailhead on Hwy. 24 to Minturn. Run and
stay on the West Grouse Creek trail until you reach timberline. Head
around or over Grouse Mountain and descend via East Grouse Creek. Lots
of bushwhacking, but great scenery and hoards of elk. |
4,000 feet |
| Vail to Copper Mountain |
42 miles |
6.5-8.5 hours |
Run to East Vail and then simply follow the bike path over Vail Pass
to Copper Mountain for breakfast or lunch and then return. |
5,200 feet |
| Booth/Crater/Piney Trail |
33-38 miles |
7.0-9.0 hours |
Run to East Vail, up the Booth Creek Trail. Bear left at the Piney
River sign and bushwhack the marginal trail up past Crater Lake, down to
the Piney River, to Lower Piney Lake, and back via Sandstone Road. |
4,000 feet |
| The Commando Run |
33-38 |
7.0-8.0 hours |
Head to East Vail and up the bike path towards Copper Mountain, turn
off to the right at the top of Vail Pass. (Refuel at the rest area.)
Continue up and over Shrine Pass. Turn right at the Lime Creek road.
Watch for and hop on the old Colorado Trail, continuing up to and
through Bowman's Shortcut. Either go up over Abraham Peak and return via
the jeep road or traverse uphill to China Bowl and back down any of the
mountain roads to the village. |
5,000 feet |
| Crater Lake Loop |
22 miles |
5.5-7.0 hours |
Go across the I-70 overpass bridge, up Sandstone Road; turn right at
the Lost Lake fork; stay right at all times and continue on that road to
the end. Then bushwhack over the ridges above Crater Lake. Stay on the
ridgeline and go over Bald Mountain and back to Vail Village on the
Spraddle Creek jeep road. |
5,000 feet |
Shrine Pass/Red Cliff
Minturn/Vail |
40 miles? |
8.5-10 hours |
Run to East Vail, up to Vail Pass, right on Shrine Pass Road, down to
Red Cliff, back on Highway 24 to Minturn, and return to Vail by any
number of routes |
4,500 feet |
|
MORE COMMENTS AND CAUTIONS. If
unfamiliar with this area, seek local guidance. If at all possible,
don't run or hike alone. There are locals who have lived here all their
lives who commonly get lost on several of the above noted trails.
Leave a message with someone as to your intentions and expected time of
return. Be prepared for anything.
Mountain weather is utterly
unpredictable. Carry lots of water, matches, food, etc. within your
ability to pack all that survival stuff along. There's plenty of
wildlife on all these runs. You can meet fox, bear, deer, elk, coyotes,
porcupines, and yes, even mountain lions. The scenery and vistas are
outstanding on any of these run/hikes, but please exercise good judgment
- and above all, leave no trace of your passage.
|
