Ashcroft Ghost Town

Aschroft's Hotel View

Ashcroft is a small ghost 12 miles down Castle Creek Rd from Aspen. There are few buildings to walk around and some nice mountain backdrops.

Looking down the scenic valley

Blue Mirror Saloon

Ashcroft, originally Castle Forks City, was larger than Aspen at one point. It boasted a bowling allye, two newspapers, six hotels, and 20 saloons. What little ore that was there was quickly depleted, however, and the town folded by 1885. Much of the infrastructure was moved to Aspen.

old cabin

With all these Aspens, a fall visit to Ashcroft would be picturesque indeed

Game Creek

Distance: 7.5 miles round trip
Elevation: 7,920ft - 10,077 ft
Elevation Gain: 2,157 ft
Dogs: Off Leash

Looking west from the meadow near the end of the Game Creek Trail

Game Creek's (near Minturn) low elevation and sturdy water crossings make it an excellent shoulder season hike, but its seemingly never ending Aspen grove means it will reach its true glory in the fall. I hiked this on memorial day weekend and the creek was roaring, while the trees were not quite leafed out yet. The creek was so full in fact, that in one place it was overflowing its banks and rushing down the trail. I had to walk to the side or try and straddle the torrent.

Looking down at the eroded start of the trail. The original trail goes off to the left and is now blocked by a fence.

Looking back down the trail after the first creek crossing

Crossing the land slide

A typical early trail segment

This was my first summer hike with my heavy boots, heavy pack, and over 2,000 ft elevation gain. The relentless climb and unseasonable heat were taxing me more than I wanted to admit and my progress was frustratingly slower than normal. My pace did give me a chance to admire the Aspens, the creek, and the solitude however. I only ran into two people the entire day, and this was a holiday weekend. One was coming down from the upper ridge, and the other was just starting out as I neared the car.

Looking up at one of the more dramatic sandstone bluffs

A little farther up the drainage. The dogs enjoyed the water.

Looking back down the trail. Some peaks now come into view.

The trail after it enters the large Aspen grove

The parking lot for the trailhead looks like a storage area for the locals whose houses border the road. There were trailers, cars, and junk blocking the limited parking. The trail used to traverse private land, but two of the landowners on either side have gone to great lengths to reroute the trail off of their land. The landowner on the left has sent the trail, which looked like it used to follow the creek, up a steep hillside. Posts and twine keep the riff raff out. The landowner to the right has recently installed a log fence that cuts off the first 30 feet or so of trail. Instead of a gradual switchback up to trail, hikers are now required to scramble straight up the hillside. This small piece is eroded, full of rocks, and treacherous. I can understand the first rerouting since the trail practically went through the house's yard. The second blockage is just plain mean. That small chunk of trail is located at the far back end of the house's yard where no one would travel anyway. I can't help but wonder if someone tried to sue them at some point for tripping on that section.

Walking in the Aspens

An early glimpse of Mount of the Holy Cross

0.85 miles up the trails is a very large landslide that required traversing. Not dangerous, just tedious. The loose rocks seemed to wait in sedimentary glee for someone to come along and twist an ankle. Sandstone bluffs, from which the slide erupted, line both sides of the trail and add geologic if not kinetic interest to route.

On top of the ridge. The ground was still compressed from the snow.

Ever wondered how Aspens get those black scars? It is Elk chewing on the bark. This was my first time seeing recent activity.

My lunch spot. The meadow was bursting with flowers while the trees remained bare.

At 2.4 miles the route enters the Aspen grove and at 2.56 miles it turns abruptly left and begins climbing up to the top of the bowl. I gained the ridge at 3.2 miles (9,698 ft) and stopped for lunch. The trail does continue, and I decided to push on despite my fatigue to 3.75 miles and 10,077 ft. This spot is about 100 yards shy of a picnic table that must have been placed there by the Vail Resort. Another 0.3 miles on is the true top of the bowl. From there one can descend down via Vail's ski runs.

At the upper meadow. Mount of the Holly Cross and its ridge is now totally visible.

Looking north from the upper meadow

I am not sure it was worth pushing on to 3.75 miles but around 3.5 miles there is a large meadow that sits above the Aspens. From there, the views of the Mount of the Holy Cross, come fully into view along with a 180° panorama of the lesser peaks to the south and the rolling green hills around Avon. That view alone would make the hike worthwhile, but toss in the Aspens, flowers, and water, and you have the perfect excursion. I can't wait to see this trail in the fall. Once again my purchasing a base camp condo in Summit County is paying dividends. I could never have done this trail from Denver without serious driving.

The final pitch to our turn around point

Our turn around point. The Vail Ski Resort is just ahead.

Kenosha Pass-East

Distance: 8 miles round trip
Elevation: 10,000 ft to 10, 418 ft
Elevation Gain: 418 ft (net), 836 cumulative

Aspens and view abound on the east side of Kenosha Pass

The east side of Kenosha Pass is a wonderful fall hike. Within a half mile it traverses one of the largest Aspen groves I have seen (although certainly not the largest in the state). Additionally, the earth tones of the distant South Park combined with the crisp air will make you want to rush out and buy a pumpkin pie. Note I did not say bake one. I am not that domestique!

Entering the Aspen grove. This year the colors have been quite muted.

It is actually the Continental Divide Trail that transects Kenosha Pass so you can walk in either direction for literally hundreds of miles. We only walked 4 miles however, before turning around. The last time I walked this trail, I turned around at 2.8 miles because I has just returned France and was still suffering from a wicked virus. You can read about that trip on my Aspen Gauntlet post. It was one of my first blog posts. Tha post has a couple of pictures.

My friends had to drag me out the grove. I could spend the whole day taking pictures there.

The east side of the pass contains bathrooms, albeit not very clean ones, and a small parking area. During prime leaf peeping, this lot will fill up by 9am and then cars will begin to back up all the way to the road.

The first view of South Park

On our route, the east-side trail hits the Aspen grove at 0.5 miles, views of South Park appear at 1.76 miles, and the trail starts to descend at 2.89 miles. The trail is rocky in places with occasional nooks with stellar views. It winds in and out of coniferous forest, open meadows, and Aspen groves (some large, some small). I found the trail very easy to walk on and we made very good time.

At this point the trail begins to descend. You can see the Ponderosa Pines that dot the area.

There were a lot of mountain bikers on the trail, which got annoying, particulalry near the trailhead on the return. The Aspen grove was mobbed with toddlers and their parents and the bikers, kids, and dogs made for a gaggle we were happy to escape from.

An open meadow near our turn around point

This trail also makes great snowshoeing, but acheives true glory when the Aspens turn. Just get an early start or be emotionally prepared to mingle with the herd.

Another view of South Park on the return