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Cascade Trail

 3 votes
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Indian Peaks Wilderness
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Length

9.7 Miles 15.7 Kilometers


Elevation

4,208' 1,283 m

Ascent

-27' -8 m

Descent

8%

Avg Grade (5°)

45%

Max Grade (24°)

12,530' 3,819 m

High

8,349' 2,545 m

Low

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

“The most popular trail in the Wilderness, and for good reason...”

— Tom Robson
GPX File — Driving Directions

Overview

Cascade Trail is the most popular trail in the Indian Peaks Wilderness (IPW), especially on weekends and holidays.
Features: Birding — Fall Colors — Lake — River/Creek — Views — Waterfall — Wildflowers — Wildlife
Dogs: Leashed

Description

The trail is fairly flat the first 1.5 miles before reaching the Arapaho Pass Trail-Cascade Trail junction. Many campsites are available along its entire length and fishing is good in all the creeks as well as Pawnee Lake.

Shelter Rock with its huge overhanging ledges, is an illegal place to camp as it is within 100 feet of the trail. Just up the trail from Shelter Rock is the Buchanan Pass-Cascade Trail junction with the Buchanan Pass taking off to the left. 4.5 miles along the trail is Cascade Falls. Horses are not allowed past Cascade Falls.

The last 2.5 miles of the trail is the hardest. There are approximately 27 switchbacks along this last portion and can be especially hard with a heavy pack, but the view on top is one of the best in the IPW.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho and Pike National Forests - Clear Creek Ranger District

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Check-Ins

Jul 30, 2016
Mike J
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 3 votes

#2

in Indian Peaks Wilderness

#236

Overall
  5.0 from 3 votes
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Rankings

#2

in Indian Peaks Wilderness

#34

in Colorado

#236

Overall
171 Views Last Month
1,795 Since Apr 21, 2015
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Photos

One of several waterfalls along the way
One of several waterfalls along the way
 3
View at Pawnee Pass, looking toward northwest.
View at Pawnee Pass, looking toward northwest.
 5
From the trail that heads up Pawnee Peak, looking at Pawnee Pass and Shoshoni Peak.
From the trail that heads up Pawnee Peak, looki…
 5
Lone Eagle Peak over the trees.
Lone Eagle Peak over the trees.
 3
The fast and steep descent down to Pawnee Lake
The fast and steep descent down to Pawnee Lake
 3
Views atop Pawnee Pass, looking towards Lake Granby.
Views atop Pawnee Pass, looking towards Lake Gr…
 3
Along Monarch Lake
Along Monarch Lake
 4
A meadow full of flowers
A meadow full of flowers
 3

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