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| | | Mount Zirkel - Routt COHP, CO | | | |
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Mount Zirkel - Routt COHP, CO
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| Hiking | 18.67 Miles |
4,399 AEG |
| | Hiking | 18.67 Miles | 11 Hrs 16 Mns | | 1.87 mph |
| 4,399 ft AEG | 1 Hour 18 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was a hike to the summit of Mount Zirkel (elevation of 12,184 feet and prominence of 3,479 feet), the high point of Routt County. Routt County is in NW Colorado; the county seat is Steamboat Springs. Mount Zirkel is about 30 miles north of Steamboat Springs, and about 10 miles from the Wyoming border.
Mount Zirkel is the 14th most prominent peak in Colorado, which stands out when you consider that there are well over 1,000 peaks in the state that are higher than Mount Zirkel.
I started and ended the hike at the Slavonia TH. The last 6 miles of the drive were on a well graded road that is suitable for most vehicles.
From the TH I began by hiking on Gilpin Trail #1161. After a few hundred feet I came to a junction with Gold Creek Lake Trail #1150, which I took for about 6 miles to Red Dirt Pass Trail #1142. I then stayed on the Red Dirt Pass Trail for about 2 miles to (where else) Red Dirt Pass. From there it was off-trail for a bit over 1.25 miles to the summit.
The Gold Creek Lake Trail was nice -- it followed along Gold Creek, although there were a couple of creek crossings. On one of the crossings I walked across the creek on a large log that served as a bridge. The second crossing had some small logs cobbled together, but they looked slippery so I just walked through the creek instead, getting my feet wet in the process. Thankfully I brought some extra socks which I put on after crossing the creek. About three miles into the hike I came to Gold Creek Lake, which is a very nice alpine lake. At the 5 mile mark I came to another junction with the Gilpin Trail, which I could have taken and done the Gilpin Lake Loop hike.
Once on the Red Dirt Pass Trail, before long I got out of the trees and entered the Slavonia Basin which is below Red Dirt Pass. I began to get above the treeline as I made my way up some switchbacks to Red Dirt Pass, at an elevation of about 11,500 feet. Here alpine tundra dominates at an elevation much lower that you see at peaks further south in Colorado.
There is no real trail from Red Dirt Pass to Mount Zirkel, but there is virtually no vegetation to hinder your progress. From the pass I made my way up a steep grassy slope to a plateau, and from there I went on a fairly level expanse to the base of Mount Zirkel. The mountain has three subpeaks a few hundred feet apart; the highest is the peak to the right. I angled up some rocks and boulders on a talus slope, which was nothing more onerous than class 2. There are great views at the summit, which I enjoyed. There are some steep glacially charged cliffs to the west, so you have to watch your step up there.
I returned the way that I came.
Synopis
This turned out to be one of my favorite Colorado hikes. It checks a lot boxes that I enjoy on a hike: water (creek, lake, and waterfall); prolific wildflowers; alpine meadows; interesting geology; and, of course, awesome scenery!
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
wildflowers were prolific throughout the hike. |
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| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
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