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Southwest Rockies

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Gems in Southwest Rockies - 22

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gem Favorite On the top of High Dune looking east toward the San De Cristo Mountain to the east of Sand Dunes National Park.

High Dune

(46) Crestone, CO
gem Favorite Painted Wall at Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

Painted Wall Overlook

(22) Montrose, CO
gem Favorite The bold colors of Lower Blue Lake.

Blue Lakes

(17) Telluride, CO
gem Favorite Group of hikers heading to Star Dune

Star Dune

(12) Crestone, CO
gem Favorite Cliff Palace.

Cliff Palace

(17) Towaoc, CO
gem Favorite Gunnison River flowing.

Warner Point

(10) Montrose, CO
gem Favorite Drone view of Cathedral Lake Trail.

Marion Mine

(7) Colorad…, CO
gem Favorite U.S. Route 50 Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Pulpit Rock Overlook

(11) Montrose, CO
gem Favorite Balcony House.

Balcony House

(11) Towaoc, CO
gem Favorite The metal walkway within Box Canyon.

Box Cañon Falls

(2) Ouray, CO
gem Favorite Long House, from the end of the trail.

Long House

(5) Towaoc, CO
gem Favorite It's fun to imagine what life may have been like here.

Ironton Townsite

(1) Ouray, CO
gem Favorite Views down toward Telluride from near the top of the falls and Powerplant.

Bridal Veil Powerhouse

(1) Telluride, CO
gem Favorite Views from Baker's Bridge.

Baker's Bridge

(1) Durango, CO
gem Favorite The viewpoint features a few informative plaques and benches to sit and enjoy the vista.

Bear Creek Falls

(1) Ouray, CO
gem Favorite San Juan views from the mill.

Matterhorn Mill

(1) Mountai…, CO
gem Favorite Petroglyphs on the Mesa Verde Petroglyph Point Trail.

Petroglyph Panel at Petroglyph Point

(11) Towaoc, CO
gem Favorite Zapata Falls - Looking up from base of falls

Zapata Falls

(8) Alamosa…, CO
gem Favorite Coyote Village.

Far View Sites

(12) Cortez, CO
gem Favorite The Bridal Veil Powerhouse.

Bridal Veil Falls

(6) Telluride, CO
gem Favorite Ancient ruins.

Spruce Tree House

(8) Towaoc, CO
gem Favorite Views from Ames Power Plant.

Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant

(1) Mountai…, CO

Recommended Routes in Southwest Rockies - 107

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Starting out on the popular and smooth Bear Creek Trail.
Intermediate Intermediate

Bear Creek Falls

4.7 mi 7.5 km • 1,076' Up 328.04 m Up • 1,076' Down 327.82 m Down

Telluride, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite View from the Mount Sneffels peak.
Difficult Difficult

Mt. Sneffels

5.0 mi 8.0 km • 2,431' Up 741.11 m Up • 2,430' Down 740.72 m Down

Ouray, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Ancient ruins.
Intermediate Intermediate

Petroglyph Point Trail

2.2 mi 3.6 km • 428' Up 130.47 m Up • 169' Down 51.48 m Down

Towaoc, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite From Perimeter Trail, overlooking Ouray.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Perimeter Trail

4.8 mi 7.8 km • 1,116' Up 340.16 m Up • 984' Down 299.84 m Down

Ouray, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Eureka Mountain at sunset, after the first October Snow
Difficult Difficult

Rito Alto Four Pass Loop

23.0 mi 37.1 km • 5,843' Up 1780.85 m Up • 5,841' Down 1780.34 m Down

Westcliffe, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite After leaving the forest you enter a meadow and depending on the time of year you may see a field of Paintbrush with Engineer dominating the view above.
Difficult Difficult

Engineer Mountain Summit

6.7 mi 10.8 km • 2,325' Up 708.54 m Up • 2,326' Down 708.99 m Down

Silverton, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Descending Handies Peak through the flowers with stunning views of the American Peaks.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Handies Peak - Southwest Slopes

5.4 mi 8.7 km • 2,377' Up 724.45 m Up • 2,376' Down 724.08 m Down

Lake City, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Looking up at the Chicago Basin.
Very Difficult Very Difficult

Chicago Basin 14er Grand Slam

12.3 mi 19.7 km • 7,735' Up 2357.76 m Up • 2,057' Down 627.08 m Down

Silverton, CO
Explore in 3D
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Favorite Wildflowers blanket the mountainside.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Bridge of Heaven via the "New" Horsethief Trail

8.1 mi 13.1 km • 2,856' Up 870.55 m Up • 2,856' Down 870.42 m Down

Ouray, CO
Explore in 3D

Southwest Rockies Hiking

  • 4,992 Miles 8,033 Kilometers of Trail
  • 107 Recommended Routes
  • 22 Gems Gems
  • 297 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 714 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 428 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
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Areas Within Southwest Rockies

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Trails in Southwest Rockies - 1,332

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

3.4 mi 5.5 km #1Ice Lake Trail
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO 75 
7.6 mi 12.2 km #2Blue Lakes Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Telluride, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Telluride, CO 45 
3.3 mi 5.4 km #3Columbine Lake Trail #509
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO 12 
4.3 mi 6.9 km #4Bear Creek National Recreation Trail #241
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Ouray, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Ouray, CO 7 
7.4 mi 11.9 km #5Middle Fork #227
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Ridgway, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Ridgway, CO 3 
21.0 mi 33.7 km #6CT - Segment 25: Molas Pass to Bolam Pass Road
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Silverton, CO
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Silverton, CO 3 
21.2 mi 34.2 km #7Endlich Mesa Trail #534
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO 2 
17.5 mi 28.2 km #8CT - Segment 22: Spring Creek Pass to Carson Saddle
Intermediate Intermediate
Lake City, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Lake City, CO 2 
1.1 mi 1.8 km #9Mt. Eolus
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO
Difficult Difficult
Silverton, CO 2 
9.0 mi 14.4 km #10Whitehead Trail #674
Intermediate Intermediate
Silverton, CO
Intermediate Intermediate
Silverton, CO 2 

Photos of Southwest Rockies - 2,303

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

Lower Blue Lake from the Blue Lakes Trail
Apr 14, 2015 near Telluride, CO
Middle Blue Lake at sunrise.
Apr 14, 2015 near Telluride, CO
Easy going on the Colorado Divide Trail (CDT).
Jul 30, 2016 near Silverton, CO
Dog tired at the end of a long day! He ate two suppers.
Jul 30, 2016 near Silverton, CO
Ice Lake Vista taken from Island Lake Trail
May 12, 2018 near Silverton, CO
Views down the summit ridge toward Telluride.
Nov 4, 2023 near Telluride, CO
Looking up at the Chicago Basin.
Feb 25, 2024 near Silverton, CO
Birds's eye view nearing the Sunlight summit.
Feb 25, 2024 near Silverton, CO
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