Blue Lake–Bowen Pass, 5 sights
11.1 mi · ▲ 3,682 ft · 5 hr 32 min
Blue Lake–Bowen Pass, 5 sights is an 11.1-mile out-and-back in Never Summer Wilderness near Gaskil, CO. The route passes Bowen Pass before reaching Blue Lake at the turnaround, 5.6 miles in. It climbs 3,682 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 92/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Blue Lake–Bowen Pass, 5 sights
11.1 mi · ▲ 3,682 ft · 5 hr 32 min
Elevation 9,979–11,484 ft
Out & Back · Never Summer Wilderness
Trailhead: Illinois River Path · 40.37248, -105.97700
Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:33 PM
Dogs allowed on leash
- Start on Illinois River Path, heading E.
- 1.8 miContinue straight onto Parika Lake Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Ruby Mountain Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miPass Bowen Pass.
- 2.1 miTurn left onto Blue Lake Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miReach Blue Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto Bowen Gulch Trail, heading NW.
- 2.4 miContinue straight onto Parika Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miContinue straight onto Illinois River Path, heading W.
- 1.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.2 mi in (~96 min). Leave by 5:37 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:42 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
More from Illinois River Path Trailhead
- Illinois River Path 3.6 mi · ▲ 1,191 ft
- Illinois Pass Trail 6.1 mi · ▲ 379 ft
- Illinois Pass Trail via Ruby Mountain Trail 11 mi · ▲ 1,779 ft
- Parika Lake–Baker Gulch Trail, 5 sights 11.3 mi · ▲ 3,994 ft
- Bowen Pass–Bowen Lake Trail, 5 sights 12.1 mi · ▲ 3,857 ft
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