Montgomery Pass Trail

Montgomery Pass Trail

The magnificent view from the top of the pass includes North Park, Clark Peak, the distant Zirkel Range, and the approach to Diamond Peaks, as well as the northern reaches of Rocky Mountain National Park. It is worth the steep, but short 1000-foot climb to the pass. You can descend the pass into the Colorado State Forest if you arrange a car shuttle or want a challenging out-and-back adventure, or once you have surmounted the pass, you can walk west into the ski bowls and enjoy a great view of the Nokhu Crags, Ute and Mahler Peaks, and Thunder Pass. Feel free to take a spectacular roller-coaster hike to the top of the Diamond Peaks if you have the time and energy in the summer; you don’t have to worry about the avalanches that can make the peaks treacherous in the winter. The pass can also be climbed from the west side through Colorado State Forest; check for details at the Moose Visitors Center. Unfortunately, the west side access also allows offroad, motorized vehicles that share the good hiking and biking route to the top.

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