Buchanan Pass Trail
Description:
The
Buchanan Pass Trail spans nearly 16 miles from its trailhead near the Camp
Dick campground on the east to its junction with the Cascade Creek Trail on
the west. The eastern four miles of the trail is outside of the Indian Peaks
Wilderness and permits the use of mountain bikes. The rest of the trail lies
in the Middle St Vrain, Coney Creek, and Buchanan travel zones. The first
eight or nine miles of the trail from Camp Dick is of low to moderate difficulty.
As you approach the pass it becomes steeper. On the west side of the pass
the trail descends steeply down into the Buchanan Creek drainage for about
two miles. From there it is a fairly easy hike to its intersection with the
Cascade Creek Trail.
The
trail actually begins near the entrance to Peaceful Valley Campground. It
travels for 1.2 miles just south of Peaceful Valley and Camp Dick campgrounds.
It intersects the Sourdough Trail just before Camp Dick. This trail heads
up over the ridge to the Coney Flats Road. The trail crosses the St Vrain
4WD road just west of the trailhead parking area and then crosses over Middle
St Vrain Creek. It travels west making a gentle climb along the north side
of the creek for about 3.5 miles to a point across the creek from the end
of the 4WD road. From here it follows an old road northwest into the wilderness.
The St Vrain Mountain Trail intersects the Buchanan Pass Trail at the wilderness
boundary. The trail is pretty much level for about a mile and a half to its
intersection with the St Vrain Glacier Trail.
The
trail begins a moderate climb to the south through a spruce forest toward
the Beaver Creek Trail. You will come the Red Deer Cutoff Trail in about 1.1
miles. From there it is about .8 miles to the end of the Beaver Creek Trail.
Heading west again it soon begins its ascent to Buchanan Pass. Near the pass
it gets narrow and steep. It makes several switchbacks up the rock face to
the tundra on top. The pass is often very windy, especially just below the
rim. The trail travels northwest across the alpine tundra for a while before
making the descent down into the valley below. Once down into the valley the
slope becomes less steep making it an easy hike down to its intersection with
the Cascade Trail.
Camping
is allowed all along the trail. Open camp fires are not permitted in the Middle
St Vrain and Coney Creek travel zones. Livestock is allowed on the trail.
Buchanan Pass affords spectacular views of scenery both east and west of the
Continental Divide. This trail connects to several other trails including
the St Vrain Mountain, St Vrain Glacier, Red Deer Lake, Gourd Lake, and Cascade
Creek trails.
Features:
| Length: |
15.6 miles (25.2 kilometers) |
| Elevation Range: |
8,565' - 11,840' |
| Elevation change: |
6,315 feet |
| Season: |
July 1 - Sept 15 |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Use: |
Moderate |
| USGS maps: |
Allenspark, Isolation Peak, Monarch
Lake |
| Trailheads: |
Middle St Vrain, Coney Flats, Monarch
Lake |
| Restrictions: |
Pets must be on a leash, no campfires
in Coney Creek and Middle St Vrain Travel Zones |
| Suitable for mountain bikes: |
Yes (on eastern 5 miles) |
| Suitable for horses: |
Yes |
Vicinity Map
Altitude Profile
Other Nearby Resources:
Directions:
To
reach the Middle St Vrain Trailhead take Highway 7 west from Lyons approximately
12 miles or Highway 7 south from Estes Park about 18 miles to Highway 72. Turn
south on 72 and travel approximately five miles to the Peaceful Valley Campground.
Turn west through the campground and on to Camp Dick Campground (about a mile).
The trailhead is located at the west end of the Camp Dick Campground.
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