Horse Ranch Park Loop
The Horse Ranch Park Loop strings the Dark Canyon, Silver Basin, and Dyke trails into a five and a half mile tour of the Kebler Pass aspens west of Crested Butte, the largest continuous aspen forest in the state. Good turnaround viewpoints along the way mean you can cut it short and still get the view. There are few better places to experience fall foliage than here and these trails give you the grand tour.
At the Trailhead
Rain Showers
Tap a day for the detailed forecast
Trailhead Info
Good to Know
Wilderness
Designated Wilderness is the strictest federal land protection there is: no roads, no machines, no development, managed to stay that way. Dog rules are tighter inside the boundary than out, they vary by wilderness area, and rangers do enforce them, so follow the line above and default to a leash. Wildlife in these basins has nowhere quieter to retreat to, and one loose dog moves elk off a meadow for the rest of the day.Avg 4G Cell Signal
The bars refer to cell tower connectivity. Calls, maps and photos all need one. Newer phones can now text (no calls) over satellite automatically without cell towers, depending on your provider. You typically need an open view of the sky for it to work.The Route
Highlights
Along the Trail
Trail Directions
- Go clockwise, starting on the Dark Canyon trail. For the entire loop, keep in mind you'll be making right turns at every junction (there are a few).
- Start off on an easy climb and pass many viewpoints of the Beckwith Mountains, beaver ponds, and surrounding Kebler aspen (4) along the way. Views of Ruby Peak and The Dyke can be seen as you make your way through a couple of meadows.
- Before you reach the 2 mile mark, there are two rocky outcroppings on the left side, which offer expansive viewpoints (5). Take a moment or two to breathe in the 50 mile view. This is a good turnaround point to keep your hike under 4 miles.
- From the viewpoint it's just under a half mile to the first junction. Take the Oh Be Joyful Pass trail to the right and ascend a steep grade.
- At the next junction take a right onto the Lake Irwin trail as it winds through a rock spine (8). Enjoy the views of Ruby Peak from this part of the trail.
- Follow the descent and climb into meadows, which offer more excellent photo opportunities (11).
- The next junction takes you to the Dyke Trail and your next right. Descend another mile in thick aspen groves (12) back to the parking lot.
Elevation Profile
Map and GPX
Base Map
Overlays
Cell Signal
Topo from USGS. Wilderness boundaries from the US Forest Service. Snow, temperature and rain are NOAA analyses and forecasts, one at a time. Cell coverage from FCC carrier filings.Take It With You
Cell service fades fast out here. Save the route before you lose the argument with your phone.
Free, and no account needed. Works in Gaia, CalTopo, onX, Garmin, and anything else that reads GPX.
Leave It Better
The locals have pitchforks. And camera phones.
And social media. Do not go viral.
Leave the Bark Alone
Every set of initials carved into an aspen is a wound the tree keeps for the rest of its life, and since the whole grove shares one root system, the damage does not stay put. The old carvings out here are a century old and count as history. Yours would be vandalism with a date on it. Photograph the old ones and leave the trunks blank.
Share the Trail
Horses have the right of way, every time. Step to the downhill side, say something so the horse knows you are a person and not a bear, and keep dogs close and quiet until the string is past. Trailers stage in the lot, so expect riders from the first mile.
Pack It All Out
Everything you carried in, plus the orange peel and the pistachio shells you assumed would rot. At this elevation they last years, and a marmot will find them long before they break down.
This trail and many others like it are maintained by the Crested Butte Conservation Corps. From picking up trash to trail maintenance to poop removal, they do it all and keep our backcountry pristine. Please help support them with a tax-deductible donation (501c3).
This Hike Is One of the 31
All 31 routes, walked and mapped by us. No battery, no bars, no problem.
Get the Book
More Golden Miles
Aspen hillsides worth chasing come fall.
Good Questions
How long is the Horse Ranch Park Loop?
About 5.4 miles with about 1,450 feet of climbing, 3 to 4 hours at a hiking pace. Turning around at the outcrop viewpoint makes it a 3.5 mile out and back.
Where is the Horse Ranch Park trailhead?
From Crested Butte, take Whiterock Avenue west as it becomes Kebler Pass Road and follow it 11.7 miles over Kebler Pass. Turn right at the sign for Horse Ranch Park and park at the outhouse. The Dark Canyon and Dyke Trail signs are a short walk up the dirt road past the green gate.
Which direction should I hike the loop?
Clockwise, starting on the Dark Canyon trail. Every junction is a right turn that way, and there are several.
When is peak fall color at Horse Ranch Park?
Late September into early October in a typical year, and it moves fast. Check the Crested Butte fall color guide before you drive over the pass.
Is there cell service at Horse Ranch Park?
No. None of the three major carriers reach the trailhead or the loop. Download the map before you leave town.
Are dogs allowed on the Horse Ranch Park Loop?
Yes, under control. Part of the loop is in the Raggeds Wilderness, and the lot doubles as horse trailer staging, so keep dogs close around the rigs.
Can I shorten the hike?
Yes. The rocky outcrops just under two miles in are the natural turnaround, and they keep nearly all the views. That out and back version is 3.5 miles.
