Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness

Ute Peak & Acorn Creek Trail

9.2 mi · ▲ 3,737 ft · 4 hr 56 min

Ute Peak & Acorn Creek Trail is a 9.2-mile out-and-back in Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness near Slate Creek, CO. The route reaches Ute Peak at the turnaround, 4.6 miles in. It climbs 3,737 ft, with sections as steep as 37% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 80/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi8,649 – 12,274 ft · steepest grade: 37%9.3 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Acorn Creek Trailhead 39.76180, -106.11986
Nearest town Slate Creek, CO

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Ute Peak & Acorn Creek Trail

9.2 mi · ▲ 3,737 ft · 4 hr 56 min

Elevation 8,648–12,273 ft

Out & Back · Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness

Trailhead: Acorn Creek Trailhead · 39.76180, -106.11986

Weather Sep 4: Overcast, high 77°F / low 46° · precip 8% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:36 AM · sunset 7:33 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Acorn Creek Trail, heading E.
  2. 3.3 miSharp left onto Ute Peak Trail, heading N.
  3. 1.2 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 450 ftReach Ute Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  5. 1.3 miSharp right onto Acorn Creek Trail, heading NW.
  6. 3.3 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

100% dirt

Weather

OvercastTemperature 77°F46°
Precip8%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity23%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
80°45°
Sunrise 6:36 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:33 PM
Sat 78°52°
Sun 81°54° 39%
Mon 68°52° 30%
Tue 76°47° 17%
Wed 77°50° 34%
Thu 76°52° 39%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~108 min). Leave by 5:25 PM for the 7:33 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:47 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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