| About Pike National Forest |
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| Rosalie Trail |
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Handicapped Accessible:
no
Trail Number:
604
Recommended Season:
Summer
High Point:
11,660 Feet
USGS Maps:
Quads: Mt. Evans, Harris Park
Ending Elevation:
9,320 Feet
Elevation Gain:
2,340 Feet
Difficulty:
Difficult
Beginning Elevation:
11,069 Feet
Length, One-way:
12.2 Miles
Reservation:
No
Season:
Early Summer - Late Fall
From Bailey/Denver, Guanella Pass Trailhead: Drive west from Bailey on Highway 285 for 11 miles to Grant. Turn right (north) on to Park County Road 62. Drive 13.5 miles to Guanella Pass. Alternately, drive west from Denver on Interstate 70. Exit at Georgetown and follow the sign leading from Georgetown to Guanella Pass.
Location Information
The Rosalie Trail is a popular trail extending from the southeast edge of the Mt. Evans Wilderness Area to Guanella Pass. It offers a variety of scenery, including spectacular views of Mt. Bierstadt and the sheer rock face on the south side of Mt. Evans. The trail intersected the Abyss Lake Trail, and has a junction with Three Mile Creek Trail, thus offering interesting loop hikes. Several stretches of the trail are above tree line.The trail is rated as difficult primarily due to its length and the elevation gains in traversing its entire length. Hiking the 12.2 miles from Guanella Pass to the Deer Creek Trailhead involves 1,280' in elevation gain. The route from Deer Creek to Guanella Pass has an elevation gain of 3,600'. There is a parking lot at each trailhead. In addition, the Deer Creek Trailhead provides a corral for horses, but camping at this trailhead is prohibited. Because the trail is in a designated wilderness area mechanized and motorized vehicles are prohibited. This description of the trail is based on starting at the Guanella Pass and ending at the lower terminus near Deer Creek Campground. From the Guanella Pass parking area take the trail leading south up a small hill (marked as 11990 summit on Mt. Evans Quad map). Half way up the hill a sign indicates the beginning of Trail 603. Bear left at the sign and contour east/southeast around the hill. After approximately 25 minutes of hiking, you will reach an 8' post cairn on the left side of the trail. Bear left at the cairn and follow successive post cairns through the willows in a southeast direction. this portion of trail is marked as "Pack Trail" on the Quad map. At mile 2.7 the trail crosses Scott Gomer Creek at an elevation of 11,300'. The trail continues southeast to a saddle at 11,420' before dropping sown into an unmarked drainage east of Scott Gomer Creek. At mile 4.5 the trail meets the Abyss Lake Trail. There is a sign at this intersection. Bear right (southwest) following the arrow pointing to Deer Creek. For the next five minutes, the Rosalie Trail follows the Abyss Lake Trail. When you reach the second sign bear left (southeast) towards Deer Creek. This is the point where the Rosalie Trail branches off from the Abyss Lake Trail. When heading down Rosalie Trail follow the arrows to Deer Creek. When hiking up from Deer Creek follow the arrows to Guanella Pass. The next 2.4 miles of the trail are steep in places, gaining 1,060' of elevation up to Rosalie Pass. This section of the trail has some spectacular views of Mt. Bierstadt and the sheer south flank of Mt. Evans. A sign marks the top of Rosalie Pass. As the trail begins to descend from the Pass you will reach the upper end of Three Mile Creek Trail, .3 miles east of the sign at the Pass. The junction is marked by a post cairn and sign. The Rosalie Trail continues in a southeasterly direction descending the Deer Creek drainage, ending at the lower trailhead. The distance form Rosalie Pass to the Deer Creek Trailhead is 5.3 miles.
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