AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center

Minnie Lake–Cannon Mountain Ditch, 6 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 3,467 ft · 6 hr 36 min

Minnie Lake–Cannon Mountain Ditch, 6 sights is a 14.6-mile out-and-back in Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center near Balarat, CO. The route reaches Minnie Lake. It climbs 3,467 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi6,900 – 8,780 ft · steepest grade: 27%15.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Long Gulch Road 40.16765, -105.38905
Nearest town Balarat, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Minnie Lake–Cannon Mountain Ditch, 6 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 3,467 ft · 6 hr 36 min

Elevation 6,900–8,780 ft

Out & Back · Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center

Trailhead: Long Gulch Road · 40.16765, -105.38905

Weather Sep 5: Light drizzle, high 83°F / low 62° · precip 9% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:34 AM · sunset 7:29 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Long Gulch Road, heading SE.
  2. 1.7 miTurn right onto Canyon Mountain Spur, heading W.
  3. 0.6 miTurn left onto Cannon Mountain Spur, heading E.
  4. 400 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  5. 300 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Cannon Mountain, heading SW.
  7. 1 miTurn right onto Cannon Mountain Ditch, heading SW.
  8. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Miller Rock, heading W.
  9. 0.7 miSharp left onto Miller Rock Descent, heading N.
  10. 0.8 miContinue straight onto Ceran Saint Vrain, heading NW.
  11. 0.6 miTurn right, heading S.
  12. 0.1 miBear left, heading W.
  13. 450 ftBear right, heading SW.
  14. 0.7 miPass Minnie Lake.
  15. 200 ftContinue straight onto Archery, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  17. 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
  18. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 150 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 100 ftSharp left onto Lake Trail, heading SW.
  21. 350 ftBear right, heading S.
  22. 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
  23. 0.1 miBear left, heading SE.
  24. 50 ftTurn left onto Glacier View Loop, heading SE.
  25. 500 ftReach Minnie Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  26. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading SE.
  28. 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
  29. 150 ftBear left onto Lake Trail, heading SW.
  30. 350 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  32. 200 ftTurn right, heading E.
  33. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  34. 0.1 miBear right onto Archery, heading N.
  35. 0.7 miBear left, heading NE.
  36. 450 ftBear right onto Ceran Saint Vrain, heading N.
  37. 500 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  38. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Miller Rock Descent, heading E.
  39. 0.8 miSharp right onto Miller Rock, heading SE.
  40. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Cannon Mountain Ditch, heading S.
  41. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  42. 1.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftSharp left onto Cannon Mountain Spur, heading NE.
  44. 200 ftBear right, heading NE.
  45. 500 ftTurn right onto Canyon Mountain Spur, heading NE.
  46. 0.6 miTurn left onto Long Gulch Road, heading W.
  47. 1.6 miArrive back at the trailhead.

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

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/minnie-lake-minnie-lake-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

72% dirt28% unspecified

Weather

Light drizzleTemperature 83°F62°
Precip9%Wind8 mphUV7Humidity33%
Hourly temperature
85°60°
Sunrise 6:34 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:29 PM
Sun 80°56° 24%
Mon 83°60° 23%
Tue 80°56° 32%
Wed 84°57° 32%
Thu 81°58° 31%
Fri 86°56° 26%

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Long Gulch Road Trailhead

Hikes near Balarat, Colorado