| About Gunnison National Forest |
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| Browns Pass Trail #369 |
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Length:
5 Miles
USGS Maps:
Mt. Harvard
Usage:
Moderate
Recommended Season:
Summer to Fall
Ending Elevation:
9,960 Feet
Elevation Gain:
2,080 Feet
Difficulty:
Moderate to More Difficult
Beginning Elevation:
10,770 Feet
High Point:
12,040 Feet
Trail Number:
369 or 1442
Reservation:
No
From Cottonwood Pass, Drive seven and a half miles east from the top of Cottonwood Pass to reach the Denny Creek Trailhead. Browns Pass Trail leads north from this trailhead, which is often crowded, because it is also the trailhead for Mt. Yale.
Location Information
The trail heads south from Texas Creek ascending to Browns Pass. From Browns Pass the trail descends into the North Fork Drainage. On the south side of the pass the trail intersects with Hartenstein Trail and the Mt. Yale Trail. Most people who use this trail use the Denny Creek Trailhead on Cottonwood Pass Road.If solitude is what you're seeking, the Texas Creek access is a good way to go. A friend of mine and I hiked this valley on Labor Day Weekend one year and saw only a few people on the Texas Creek side of Browns Pass. Beware that the gradual ascent to Browns Pass from Texas Creek is a real kicker with a pack, but worth every step! (The views from this trail will make you shake your head in awe.) Some of this section of the trail follows the same path as a small stream and is very wet. If you're hiking in wet weather be prepared for a slick trail. There are dispersed camping sites on the south side of the pass. Please use existing sites so as not to further compromise this heavily used portion of the wilderness. There are also dispersed camping sites at the junction of Browns Pass Trail and Texas Creek Trail. Don't camp in Browns Cabin it has been recognized as harboring hantavirus, which is deadly.
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