AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Taylor Mountain–Bright Trail Extension, 5 sights

14.5 mi · ▲ 4,359 ft · 7 hr 1 min

Taylor Mountain–Bright Trail Extension, 5 sights is a 14.5-mile out-and-back near Big Elk Meadows, CO. The route reaches Taylor Mountain at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 4,359 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 81/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi7,300 – 9,141 ft · steepest grade: 35%14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.24982, -105.40951
Nearest town Big Elk Meadows, CO
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Taylor Mountain–Bright Trail Extension, 5 sights

14.5 mi · ▲ 4,359 ft · 7 hr 1 min

Elevation 7,302–9,139 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: 40.24982, -105.40951

Weather Sep 4: Drizzle, high 83°F / low 58° · precip 13% · wind 19 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:30 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading W.
  2. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  3. 150 ftTurn right onto Button Rock B Road, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Johnny Park Road, heading SW.
  5. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Johnny Park, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn left onto Johnny Park Road, heading W.
  7. 0.2 miBear left, heading N.
  8. 1.9 miTurn left onto Bright Trail, heading S.
  9. 3.5 miTurn left onto Taylor Mountain, heading S.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Taylor Mountain Spur, heading SW.
  11. 0.9 miReach Taylor Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.9 miTurn right onto Taylor Mountain, heading NW.
  13. 0.2 miTurn right onto Bright Trail, heading NE.
  14. 3.5 miTurn right onto Johnny Park Road, heading NW.
  15. 2 miTurn right onto Johnny Park, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Johnny Park Road, heading SE.
  17. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Button Rock B Road, heading NE.
  18. 150 ftTurn left, heading E.
  19. 150 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  20. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/taylor-mountain-bright-trail-extension-out-back-5-sights

Trail surface

69% dirt31% unspecified

Weather

DrizzleTemperature 83°F58°
Precip13%Wind19 mphUV7Humidity25%
Hourly temperature
85°55°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat 79°61°
Sun 83°58° 27%
Mon 79°59° 26%
Tue 77°56° 23%
Wed 78°52° 32%
Thu 84°56° 38%

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Big Elk Meadows, Colorado