Union Mountain–West Lake, 5 sights is an 8.5-mile out-and-back near Wheeler Junction, CO. The route passes West Lake before reaching Union Mountain at the turnaround, 4.2 miles in. It climbs 2,564 ft, with sections as steep as 32% grade. It scores 39/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi9,748 – 12,314 ft · steepest grade: 32%9.0 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Haul Road 39.49928, -106.15277
Nearest town Wheeler Junction, CO
Directions
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Union Mountain–West Lake, 5 sights
8.5 mi · ▲ 2,564 ft · 4 hr 7 min
Elevation 9,748–12,313 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Haul Road · 39.49928, -106.15277
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:37 AM · sunset 7:33 PM
Transit-accessible: Woodward stop 325 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Haul Road, heading W.
- 500 ftPass West Lake.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Red Tail, heading SE.
- 0.2 miBear left onto East Fork, heading SW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Red Tail, heading S.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Copper Mountain Road, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Tail, heading W.
- 200 ftBear left onto Elk Alley, heading SW.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Lower Fawn-Tastic, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Elk Alley, heading SW.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Copper Mountain Road, heading S.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Upper Fawn-Tastic, heading SE.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Blue Oso, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Upper Fawn-Tastic, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Copper Mountain Road, heading SE.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Gopher It, heading SW.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Ski Area Access, heading E.
- 2 miReach Union Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 2 miSharp left onto Gopher It, heading NE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Copper Mountain Road, heading W.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Upper Fawn-Tastic, heading W.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Blue Oso, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Upper Fawn-Tastic, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Copper Mountain Road, heading NE.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Elk Alley, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Lower Fawn-Tastic, heading N.
- 50 ftBear left onto Elk Alley, heading N.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Red Tail, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Copper Mountain Road, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Tail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto East Fork, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right onto Red Tail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Haul Road, heading SE.
- 450 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
43% dirt57% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:37 AMSunset 7:33 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 4.2 mi in (~171 min). Leave by 4:22 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:30 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Woodward stop 325 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Haul Road Trailhead
- Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway 2.6 mi · ▲ 82 ft
- Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway 2.6 mi · ▲ 26 ft
- Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway 2.7 mi · ▲ 56 ft
- Fremont Pass Recreational Pathway 2.9 mi · ▲ 54 ft
- Colorado Trail (Segment 8) 3.4 mi · ▲ 528 ft
- Colorado Trail (Segment 8) 3.6 mi · ▲ 555 ft
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