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Hayden Pass
Fremont County, Colorado
View this on the Colorado Trailheads Map
Nearby Towns: Coaldale, Villa Grove
Nearby Trails: Hermit Pass
Trail Length: 5.9 miles
Elevation: 7,769 to 10,722 feet
There are very few trails in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains and Hayden Pass is a nice one connecting one valley to the other. It is steep on both sides, with rocky areas.
This is a good way to get from the Denver area over to Alamosa and the valley on the other side. The trail starts from Coaldale on pavement that soon turns to a wide, smooth dirt road.
The Hayden Campground is about five miles in and is a good place to air down at the trailhead. The trail starts on the left at the beginning of the camping spots. It starts uphill right away.
There are a few rocky areas where you can place your tires in different spots to make it a little easier, but there aren't too many choices along the way. Be sure to watch for a place on the right of the trail where you can park and check out the amazing views. The mountains are on both sides as you climb this narrow mountain, making the views spectacular all around you.
There is a very narrow section of shelf road before you get to the top that is very dangerous if icy. There are no rocks to stop you from sliding off the side. This section should not be attempted if there is any ice at all.
Soon the trees begin to thin a bit and you get to the top of the pass. A sign marks the top, right next to a hiking trail. There is plenty of parking and shady trees, making this a great place to stop for lunch.
The trip down the other side is immediately very steep. You come around a corner and get your first glimpse of the valley below you as you come down a very steep, long and straight section of loose rock. There are a few larger rocks here and there that could cause some troubles for stock vehicles with lower clearance. This section would be much more difficult coming up in the other direction.
This is a great trail to take as an option between these two valleys instead of staying on the highway.
Member Reports
Driving Directions From Denver, take Highway 115 out of Colorado Springs or travel all the way to Pueblo instead. Highway 50 west will take you through Canon City and into the Arkansas River Canyon. Cotopaxi is a good place to stop for gas and food if you need it. The turn off is on the left, just under a mile past mile marker 242 at Coaldale. The trailhead is 5 miles down this road on the left at the Hayden Campground.
Meeting Places Those coming from the Denver area might want to meet on exit 184 off of I-25 at the Conoco gas station to the west of the highway.
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