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Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area

Best Hiking Trails in Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area

143 reviews


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Overview

Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is a protected area in Colorado.


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  • Hiking Trails (61)
  • Reviews (143)
  1. 1
    La Plata Peak - Northwest Ridge
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 4.4 mi
  2. 2
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 3.9 mi
  3. 3
    Mount Harvard via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 6.4 mi
  4. 4
    Missouri Mountain via Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 5.1 mi
  5. 5
    Mount Belford via Missouri Gulch Trail and Mt. Oxford via Belford
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 3.8 mi
  6. 6
    Denny Creek Trail and Denny Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ EASY 2.9 mi
  7. 7
    Anglemeyer Lake via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MODERATE 3.6 mi
  8. 8
    Mount Harvard Loop via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 14.0 mi
  9. 9
    Mount Yale via Colorado Trail and Mt. Yale East Ridge
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 4.8 mi
  10. 10
    Anglemeyer Lake via Horn Fork Basin Trail and Mount Columbia West Slopes
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIFFICULT 6.6 mi
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    AdventureGOATS 2 years, 11 months ago
    Colorado Trail Round 2-7/5/23, 12:27:38PM)
    Round 2 of a week adventure on the CT with my girls. Most beautiful hike of your life.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    blor65 2 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata Peak Trail to Summit
    Not for the faint of heart. Prepare heavily beforehand. Early summer will require traction of some kind. With that said, the views are incredible. “6-8 hours estimated” seems very fast. We had one in our party experience complications on the way down with altitude sickness. Took 12 hours as a result. Plan accordingly
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tbsmith 2 years, 11 months ago
    Grizzly Creek to Snow
    Hiked toward Grizzly Lake, was stopped by snow, though spectacular scenery. Creek had lots of water, so crossing creek beyond snow might have been challenging anyway. Figure creek filled with fast snow melt as it’s turned warm
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    hchingarande 3 years, 9 months ago
    Mount Belford via Mt. Oxford via Belford and Missouri Gulch Trail
    Lots of gain but great hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    hchingarande 3 years, 9 months ago
    Missouri Mountain via Missouri Gulch Trail
    Started at 5am, set up camp along the way and summit red at 12pmish
    ★ ★ ★

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    voramd 3 years, 11 months ago
    Missouri
    Nice hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    theKumquatOfParadise 4 years, 7 months ago
    Grizzly lake hike out and back
    Gorgeous out and back up to grizzly lake. Hiked in early October and turned back when the snow got too deep, about half mile from the lake.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    saraburton16 4 years, 10 months ago
    Lake Anne
    Lake has trout and is nice to swim
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Angelina 4 years, 10 months ago
    Track (7/20/21, 7:13:02AM)
    Finally the road to Harvard/ Columbia is good enough to drive my civic on.. thank you all the hands that created this amazing trail. Beautiful rocks steps to ascents. Great weather until 3 pm it’s started to rain a little here and there. But still a bleeding to hike it🧗‍♂️🏔🧗‍♀️💫🤩❤️
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    David 4 years, 10 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    Great hike! Our fourth 14er. Great trail... loved the scramble at the end!
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    maple_force 5 years ago
    X rated
    Biggest day ever
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    cstevens63 5 years, 8 months ago
    Mt. Yale
    The hike was great! Slope was reasonable. Camping was hard to find.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    24givn2019 5 years, 8 months ago
    North Fork Denny Creek and Denny Creek Trail
    After an early September snow fall, the trail was clear of snow until Hartenstein Lake junction. Thereafter snow on the trail until breaking out of timber near top end. This trail is stingy on views except a couple in the middle section and then at the top. The redeeming view that made it better was heavily snow coated north face of Mt. Princeton.
    ★ ★

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    Live to Love - Love to Live 5 years, 9 months ago
    Portal Campground via Grizzly Lake
    The hike up is a gradual incline, but it does gain 2,000ft by the lake. The north couloir of Grizzly Peak hold snow well into July and is a classic ski decent, topping out at 13,980ft! Be mindful of the starting elevation at this trailhead of 10,600ft.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jwzj303 5 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/20/20, 10:45:52AM)
    Parked at the forest service sign and mountain biked up to the reservoir. Bike up us a decent climb, and coming down is good fun. The creek by the side of the road is very dramatic but didn’t see many trout in it, maybe due to periodic large waterfalls.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    bo 5 years, 10 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    Beautiful hike. Trails are well maintained. More difficult to find best bouldering route. Summit views are spectacular
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Phillip 5 years, 11 months ago
    Weston Pass to Italian
    Weston Pass air down, Buena Vista Grocery, Cotton Wood Pass, arrived at Italian
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Gus 5 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    This was a beautiful area leading up to the steep approach
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    drew_esson 6 years, 8 months ago
    Mt Yale
    Beautiful fall hike with Aspen in their prime.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jean.krejca 6 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/4/19, 6:11:41AM)
    Great trip and such a short drive from BV.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jean.krejca 6 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/3/19, 11:38:50AM)
    Pleasant stroll with dog and baby. Ate lunch by one of the many stream crossings.
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Adam 6 years, 9 months ago
    Lake Ann
    Low key hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Robyn 6 years, 9 months ago
    Great hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    JohnH 6 years, 9 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    Tourists, do not underestimate the steady elevation gain of this hike. Be sure to start down by noon in August. Solo navigation of bouldering to summit takes patient scouting during summit fever rush to spot the next cairn. Do not proceed until you spot the next cairn, but half way up the boulder climb the tiny cairns move to the east face which can only be seen by following the brief (30 ft) dirt trail from the last cairn on the west face. Do not climb unless you are heading for a cairn. As Bunny states, do not start out on the east face.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Bunny65 6 years, 10 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    Excellent trail most of the way. However, finding the route on the ridge can be challenging as it is difficult to follow the trails in the rocks. Follow the cairns on the West side. Do not cross to the east side even though some misleading tracks lead in this direction. The distance and time associated this hike are grossly inaccurate. Distance is 15 km and 6 to 8 hours is more reasonable estimate of the time needed. Elevation gain is 1288 m.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Bunny65 6 years, 10 months ago
    Track (8/8/19, 6:22:51AM)
    Excellent trail most of the way. However finding the route on the ridge can be confusing as the trail vanishes in boulders. Follow the cairns on the west side of the ridge. Do not cross to the east side even though some tracks lead in this direction.
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    alexsadler5 1 year, 8 months ago
    Mt Yale
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    nallard14 1 year, 9 months ago
    Belford, Oxford, and Missouri Trio
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    acechris7 1 year, 9 months ago
    Ptarmigan Lake via 584
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    rachel.miedema 1 year, 9 months ago
    Truro Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    sleepymichael 1 year, 9 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★

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    Garrett Geros 1 year, 9 months ago
    La plata peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ryan.chelstowski 1 year, 10 months ago
    Mt. Yale
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ryan.chelstowski 1 year, 10 months ago
    Mt. Yale
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    choffmeier 1 year, 10 months ago
    Track (7/28/24, 7:06:14AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    scott 1 year, 11 months ago
    Mount Belford via Mt. Oxford via Belford and Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★

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    ktjnorton 1 year, 11 months ago
    Denny creek TH to browns pass
    ★ ★

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    dbmarkle 1 year, 11 months ago
    Track
    ★ ★ ★

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    rivermlopez 1 year, 11 months ago
    Mountain Yale
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    gebone2019 2 years ago
    Track (6/1/24, 2:39:04PM) Pie Plant
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    melaniegarden 2 years ago
    Mount Yale via Colorado Trail and Mt. Yale East Ridge
    ★

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    a.hworth69 2 years, 8 months ago
    Track (10/7/23, 7:14:52AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    shahyon10 2 years, 8 months ago
    Track (9/27/22, 10:18:54AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    rleclair 2 years, 8 months ago
    Grizzly/Garfield
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    deanunglert 2 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/3/23, 10:34:45AM)
    ★ ★ ★

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    Brian Peterson 2 years, 9 months ago
    AAA Yale East Ridge Cutoff
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    clif.rope 2 years, 10 months ago
    Track (8/9/23, 10:35:55AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jessup.davis 2 years, 10 months ago
    Belford to Oxford to Elkhead Pass to Missouri
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Roddy B 2 years, 10 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★

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    markstige 2 years, 10 months ago
    La Plata Peak Loop
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kcstlfan 2 years, 10 months ago
    Grizzly lake trail No. 1990
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jongodes 2 years, 10 months ago
    Track (7/29/23, 12:51:11PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ssgustafson 2 years, 10 months ago
    Ice and N Apostle 29 July 2023
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    harrisra52 2 years, 10 months ago
    In
    ★ ★ ★

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    nihars666 2 years, 11 months ago
    Mt Columbia
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    harrisra52 2 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★

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    czb070313 3 years, 1 month ago
    Mount Harvard Loop via Mt. Harvard and Columbine Traverse
    ★

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    david.schoderbek 3 years, 2 months ago
    La Plata Peak (9/25/22, 08:58:25)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    xiaoyi2782 3 years, 5 months ago
    Mount Belford via Mt. Oxford via Belford and Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mtbiker.adam 3 years, 6 months ago
    Track (9/12/22, 8:41:11AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    sirmanbob 3 years, 8 months ago
    Mt. Yale (9/16/22, 5:26:30AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    EpicRider 3 years, 8 months ago
    Belford / Oxford / Elkhead Pass / Missouri hike
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    evelyn.nangle 3 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/11/22, 4:42:51AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    dbillesbach51 3 years, 9 months ago
    Frenchmen creek
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    patjmcfarland 3 years, 9 months ago
    Yale summit
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Mary 3 years, 9 months ago
    Bear Lake via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★

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    magnepull 3 years, 10 months ago
    Track (7/30/22, 1:26:03PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    joshpatinkin 3 years, 10 months ago
    Tabor Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ssgustafson 3 years, 10 months ago
    Grizzly Peak 9 July 2022
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tadroberts1014 3 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    rydaviesan 3 years, 11 months ago
    Mt Harvard
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kppeticolas 3 years, 11 months ago
    Texas Creek Day Ride Mind
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kppeticolas 3 years, 11 months ago
    Texas Creek Day Ride Mind
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ssgustafson 3 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata and East La Plata 1 July 2022
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ssgustafson 3 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata and East La Plata 1 July 2022
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    cbailey284 4 years ago
    Mount Missouri
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    skye.cudney 4 years, 2 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    davkail 4 years, 6 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    davkail 4 years, 6 months ago
    Mount Harvard
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    BD531CB3-74E3-4A79-9576-81324374722C 4 years, 7 months ago
    UN 12505
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Phil 4 years, 8 months ago
    Mount Belford Loop via Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Wojciech 4 years, 8 months ago
    Missouri Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    heidi.oconnor 4 years, 8 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★

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    john.chakerian 4 years, 8 months ago
    La Plata Peak Loop
    ★

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    rzahradnikmitchell 4 years, 8 months ago
    Missouri Mountain via Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★

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    plantroot58 4 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/11/21, 1:03:47PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    kacooper8 4 years, 9 months ago
    Track (9/8/21, 3:46:12PM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    masonwilde1 4 years, 9 months ago
    Missouri via Pine Creek
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tadroberts1014 4 years, 9 months ago
    Missouri Mountain
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    griffin3311 4 years, 9 months ago
    Track (8/21/21, 11:43:03AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ronjr811 4 years, 10 months ago
    Mt. Yale Descent (8/8/21, 14:16:59)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    ricky.reusser 4 years, 11 months ago
    Ellingwood Ridge to La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    chaselclaflin 4 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    stephanie.black 4 years, 11 months ago
    Harvard and Columbia Traverse
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Jason Aubrey 4 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata via Ellingwood ridge route with Dan
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mwarner14 4 years, 11 months ago
    Mt. Yale - Southwest Slopes
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    JBrew 5 years ago
    Mt. Yale Solo
    ★ ★

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    Nick Anderson 5 years, 1 month ago
    Denny Creek Trail and Denny Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Molly 5 years, 1 month ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    devindustman 5 years, 1 month ago
    Missori
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    anchor.jennison 5 years, 2 months ago
    Mount Harvard via Mt. Harvard and Columbine Traverse
    ★

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    Reid 5 years, 2 months ago
    Track (9/1/20, 5:16:17AM)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    monteseyer 5 years, 2 months ago
    Colorado Trail
    ★

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    Jon Cohn 5 years, 3 months ago
    Mt. Belford (aka Tufts Peak) and Mt. Oxford
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    bravesfn75 5 years, 4 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    bradmcqueen 5 years, 6 months ago
    Yale
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Brian 5 years, 7 months ago
    La Plata
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    bruce_k 5 years, 8 months ago
    North cottonwood creek trail, Kroenke lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jefffuhr 5 years, 8 months ago
    Mt Belford/Mt Oxford
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    scttengle 5 years, 8 months ago
    Yale minus thirty
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    miguela.castano.39 5 years, 8 months ago
    Track (9/19/20, 09:06:17)
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    nandkum 5 years, 9 months ago
    Mt Belford / Oxford
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Hannes 5 years, 9 months ago
    Sean Van Horn
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    frank.biasi 5 years, 9 months ago
    Mt. Harvard from North Cottonwood
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    frank.biasi 5 years, 9 months ago
    Mt. Harvard from North Cottonwood
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jefffuhr 5 years, 9 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    frank.biasi 5 years, 9 months ago
    Mt. Harvard from North Cottonwood
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    jweygandt 5 years, 10 months ago
    Missouri Mountain West Ridge
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    cschwapp 5 years, 10 months ago
    Missouri Mt. w/ Rory
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    sean 5 years, 10 months ago
    Portal Campground via Grizzly Lake
    ★

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    Robert.j.ferris 5 years, 10 months ago
    Mnt Columbia western slope
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    chris.m.brandenburg 5 years, 10 months ago
    Hartenstein Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    colinchristofferson 5 years, 11 months ago
    Lincoln Creek Road
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    tammy.yan1 5 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Gus 5 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    d.j.lopez2010 5 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    cschwapp 5 years, 11 months ago
    Mt. Yale w/ Erik
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    beicens 5 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Harvard via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    si.vogt93 5 years, 11 months ago
    Mount Harvard via Horn Fork Basin Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    derek9398 6 years ago
    Mount Yale Climb
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Tommy Strickland 6 years ago
    La Plata Peak
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    upstruck 6 years ago
    Mt Yale from Denny Creek
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Zac 6 years, 8 months ago
    Lake Ann
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    raywdunham 6 years, 9 months ago
    La Plata 5 Sep 19
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    Gabe 6 years, 9 months ago
    Harvard and Columbia with Boulder CHAOS
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    juliarenken01 6 years, 9 months ago
    Mount Belford Loop via Missouri Gulch Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    gregyo 6 years, 10 months ago
    La Plata Summit
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    mekaprasad 6 years, 10 months ago
    Mount Yale via Denny Creek Trail
    ★ ★

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    jsnolan311 6 years, 10 months ago
    Clear Creek Reservoir via Colorado Trail
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    scottmellin 6 years, 10 months ago
    Grizzly coulior
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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    conlibra 6 years, 11 months ago
    Hartestine Lake
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    bryan.whitesel44 6 years, 11 months ago
    ★ ★ ★ ★

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    MtGoat72 6 years, 11 months ago
    La Plata Peak (2019-07-05)
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★