Lulu Mountain–Thunder Pass, 4 sights
15 mi · ▲ 3,467 ft · 6 hr 44 min
Lulu Mountain–Thunder Pass, 4 sights is a 15-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain National Park near Gaskil, CO. The route passes Thunder Pass before reaching Lulu Mountain at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 3,467 ft, with sections as steep as 40% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 58/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Lulu Mountain–Thunder Pass, 4 sights
15 mi · ▲ 3,467 ft · 6 hr 44 min
Elevation 9,015–12,215 ft
Out & Back · Rocky Mountain National Park
Trailhead: 40.40082, -105.84878
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 75°F / low 44° · precip 2% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:32 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 300 ftContinue straight onto Colorado River Trail, heading N.
- 3.9 miSharp left, heading N.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading N.
- 1.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Grand Ditch Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading NW.
- 1.5 miPass Thunder Pass.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.5 miReach Lulu Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.2 miBear left onto Grand Ditch Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Thunder Pass Trail, heading SW.
- 1.1 miSharp left, heading E.
- 250 ftSharp right onto Colorado River Trail, heading SW.
- 3.7 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 7.5 mi in (~283 min). Leave by 2:29 PM for the 7:32 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:07 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- Timber Lake Trail 7.3 mi · ▲ 1,307 ft
- Long Meadows Trail & Timber Lake Trail 7.9 mi · ▲ 1,444 ft
- Lake of the Clouds Trail & Red Mountain Trail via Grand Ditch Trail 12.3 mi · ▲ 2,198 ft
- Colorado River Trail–Red Mountain Trail Loop, 3 sights 12.7 mi · ▲ 1,445 ft
- Grand Ditch Trail 14.8 mi · ▲ 1,478 ft
- The Electrode–Thunder Pass, 4 sights 15.3 mi · ▲ 3,329 ft
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