Burro Trail & Wheeler Trail

15.7 mi · ▲ 5,140 ft · 7 hr 48 min

Burro Trail & Wheeler Trail is a 15.7-mile out-and-back near Wheeler Junction, CO. It climbs 5,140 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 55/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi9,695 – 12,537 ft · steepest grade: 26%16.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 39.50488, -106.14090
Nearest town Wheeler Junction, CO

Directions

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Burro Trail & Wheeler Trail

15.7 mi · ▲ 5,140 ft · 7 hr 48 min

Elevation 9,696–12,537 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 39.50488, -106.14090

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:38 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Transit-accessible: Copper Entrance stop 162 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 350 ftTurn right onto Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway, heading S.
  3. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Wheeler Trail, heading E.
  4. 6.1 miBear left onto Crystal Lake Road, heading S.
  5. 1 miSharp right onto Burro Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miReach Wheeler Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  7. 0.1 miSharp left onto Crystal Lake Road, heading NE.
  8. 1 miBear right onto Wheeler Trail, heading W.
  9. 2.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  10. 3.4 miContinue straight onto Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway, heading NW.
  11. 0.6 miTurn left, heading N.
  12. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

92% dirt8% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:38 AMSunset 7:29 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.6 mi in (~157 min). Leave by 4:33 PM for the 7:29 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Copper Entrance stop 162 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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