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Wasatch Trail Out-and-Back
Hiking Trail
Hard
11.98 mi
4,525 ft
Hike to the sky-scraping 13,061-foot pass on the Wasatch Trail.
The Wasatch Trail is one of the most iconic trails in Telluride. It is a bona fide bucket list objective for Colorado hikers, but this trail is no joke: it requires about 4,500 feet of elevation gain in 12 miles, reaching a summit elevation of 13,061 feet.
To access this trail, the hike shown here starts from downtown Telluride on the Bear Creek Falls trail. The towering 80-foot Bear Creek Falls is itself an iconic destination, and this route includes a side trip to the falls.
The trail winds up a narrow mountain valley, with beautiful views of aspen trees and the peaks high above. As you approach the falls, the trail becomes steeper, narrower, and more challenging. You will pass the junction with the Wasatch Trail, which you will follow later. You will soon reach a large boulder that marks the end of the trail and the beginning of the falls.
Bear Creek Falls is a stunning sight to behold. The water plunges down from a high cliff into a pool below, creating a misty spray and a rainbow on sunny days. You can climb up the boulder to get a closer view of the falls, or find a spot on the rocks or grass to relax and enjoy the scenery.
However, don’t relax too long, because this hike is just beginning! The ascent up the Wasatch Trail is long, technical in places, and physically demanding—but the views are spectacularly beautiful! The trail climbs high into the alpine, eventually reaching the Wasatch Trail’s high point at 13,061 feet.
Here you’ll enjoy staggering high-alpine scenery, with the jaw-dropping San Juan mountains all around you. Keep your eyes peeled for alpine wildlife, like marmots. Once done enjoying the high alpine terrain, turn around and get ready for the descent!
The descent off the top of the pass consists of narrow singletrack traversing exposed high-alpine terrain. You will have to navigate tight switchbacks, loose rocks, and exposed ledges on your way down to the Bear Creek drainage. Some sections of trail are quite exposed, with consequential fall danger.
The descent shown here follows the East Fork Bear Creek trail, which is a bit more difficult than the classic Wasatch Trail. You can opt to head further west to bypass this section if you prefer.
The trail will eventually smooth out and follow the fast, flowy singletrack along the creek. This will take you all the way back to the trailhead where you started. Written by Greg Heil
The Wasatch Trail is one of the most iconic trails in Telluride. It is a bona fide bucket list objective for Colorado hikers, but this trail is no joke: it requires about 4,500 feet of elevation gain in 12 miles, reaching a summit elevation of 13,061 feet.
To access this trail, the hike shown here starts from downtown Telluride on the Bear Creek Falls trail. The towering 80-foot Bear Creek Falls is itself an iconic destination, and this route includes a side trip to the falls.
The trail winds up a narrow mountain valley, with beautiful views of aspen trees and the peaks high above. As you approach the falls, the trail becomes steeper, narrower, and more challenging. You will pass the junction with the Wasatch Trail, which you will follow later. You will soon reach a large boulder that marks the end of the trail and the beginning of the falls.
Bear Creek Falls is a stunning sight to behold. The water plunges down from a high cliff into a pool below, creating a misty spray and a rainbow on sunny days. You can climb up the boulder to get a closer view of the falls, or find a spot on the rocks or grass to relax and enjoy the scenery.
However, don’t relax too long, because this hike is just beginning! The ascent up the Wasatch Trail is long, technical in places, and physically demanding—but the views are spectacularly beautiful! The trail climbs high into the alpine, eventually reaching the Wasatch Trail’s high point at 13,061 feet.
Here you’ll enjoy staggering high-alpine scenery, with the jaw-dropping San Juan mountains all around you. Keep your eyes peeled for alpine wildlife, like marmots. Once done enjoying the high alpine terrain, turn around and get ready for the descent!
The descent off the top of the pass consists of narrow singletrack traversing exposed high-alpine terrain. You will have to navigate tight switchbacks, loose rocks, and exposed ledges on your way down to the Bear Creek drainage. Some sections of trail are quite exposed, with consequential fall danger.
The descent shown here follows the East Fork Bear Creek trail, which is a bit more difficult than the classic Wasatch Trail. You can opt to head further west to bypass this section if you prefer.
The trail will eventually smooth out and follow the fast, flowy singletrack along the creek. This will take you all the way back to the trailhead where you started. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasatch Trail Climb | 0.53 mi | 138 ft | 4.9% |
| Wasatch Trail Climb | 1.53 mi | 630 ft | 7.8% |
| Wasatch Trail Climb | 0.79 mi | 591 ft | 13.6% |
| Wasatch Trail Climb | 1.05 mi | 692 ft | 12.5% |
| D65 Rd Climb | 0.98 mi | 705 ft | 13.6% |