Windy Peak–Buffalo Trail, 6 sights is a 13.5-mile out-and-back in Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Pactolus, CO. The route reaches Windy Peak at the turnaround, 6.7 miles in. It climbs 3,016 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi8,327 – 9,502 ft · steepest grade: 19%14.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 39.88070, -105.44485
Nearest town Pactolus, CO
Directions
AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com
Windy Peak–Buffalo Trail, 6 sights
13.5 mi · ▲ 3,016 ft · 6 hr
Elevation 8,328–9,502 ft
Out & Back · Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Trailhead: 39.88070, -105.44485
Weather Sep 4: Rain, high 77°F / low 51° · precip 18% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:30 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Raccoon Trail, heading NE.
- 0.9 miSharp left onto Mule Deer Trail, heading SE.
- 1.6 miSharp left onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Service Road, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miContinue straight onto Snowshoe Hare Access Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading SE.
- 0.1 miBear right onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading NE.
- 150 ftBear left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading NE.
- 0.6 miTurn right onto Buffalo Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miBear left onto Mountain Lion Trail, heading NE.
- 1 miBear right onto Mountain Lion Spur To Windy Peak Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Burro Spur To Windy Peak Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miReach Windy Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Mountain Lion Spur To Windy Peak Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Mountain Lion Trail, heading E.
- 1 miBear right onto Buffalo Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miBear right onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading W.
- 150 ftBear left onto Snowshoe Hare Trail, heading W.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftBear right onto Snowshoe Hare Access Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Aspen Meadows Campground Road, heading W.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miTurn right onto Service Road, heading W.
- 100 ftSharp left onto Snowshoe Hare Connector To Mule Deer Trail, heading W.
- 0.2 miSharp right onto Mule Deer Trail, heading NW.
- 1.6 miSharp right onto Raccoon Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 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
97% dirt3% unspecified
Weather
RainTemperature 77°F51°
Precip18%Wind7 mphUV8Humidity26%
Hourly temperatureRain chance
80°50°
Sunrise 6:33 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:30 PM
Sat
73°53°
20%
Sun
76°57°
44%
Mon
72°53°
51%
Tue
75°50°
41%
Wed
72°50°
40%
Thu
77°53°
42%
More from this trailhead
- Panorama Point & Raccoon Trail Loop 2.5 mi · ▲ 447 ft
- Mule Deer Trail 3.4 mi · ▲ 748 ft
- Mule Deer Trail–Service Road, 3 sights 5.8 mi · ▲ 936 ft
- Kriley Pond–Blue Grouse Trail, 3 sights 8.7 mi · ▲ 1,474 ft
- Dude's Fishing Hole–Coyote Trail, 4 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,942 ft
- Slough Pond–Black Bear Trail, 4 sights 14.5 mi · ▲ 2,400 ft
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