Sawtooth Mountain & Buchanan Pass via Buchanan Pass Trail
15 mi · ▲ 3,592 ft · 6 hr 48 min
Sawtooth Mountain & Buchanan Pass via Buchanan Pass Trail is a 15-mile out-and-back in Indian Peaks Wilderness near Peaceful Valley, CO. The route passes Buchanan Pass before reaching Sawtooth Mountain at the turnaround, 7.5 miles in. It climbs 3,592 ft, with sections as steep as 29% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 89/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sawtooth Mountain & Buchanan Pass via Buchanan Pass Trail
15 mi · ▲ 3,592 ft · 6 hr 48 min
Elevation 8,706–12,318 ft
Out & Back · Indian Peaks Wilderness
Trailhead: County Road 92J · 40.12999, -105.52421
Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 77°F / low 55° · precip 18% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:31 PM
Dogs allowed on leash · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on County Road 92J, heading W.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Middle Saint Vrain Trail, heading NW.
- 4.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Buchanan Pass Trail, heading N.
- 2.8 miPass Buchanan Pass.
- 250 ftBear left, heading S.
- 0.4 miReach Sawtooth Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2.8 miBear right, heading NE.
- 4.7 miContinue straight onto County Road 92J, heading E.
- 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 7.2 mi in (~267 min). Leave by 2:43 PM for the 7:31 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from County Road 92J Trailhead
- Sourdough Trail 1.9 mi · ▲ 309 ft
- Middle Saint Vrain Trail via Sourdough Trail 2.4 mi · ▲ 231 ft
- Beaver Bog via Sourdough Trail 7.6 mi · ▲ 1,071 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 8.6 mi · ▲ 1,084 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 9.4 mi · ▲ 1,379 ft
- Buchanan Pass Trail 10.3 mi · ▲ 1,192 ft
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