Hasley Pass Loop
For a hike that takes you off the beaten path near Crested Butte, Hasley Pass delivers some of the most beautiful scenery in the Elk Mountains. This is a great choice for wildflower season, when the hillsides are waist high in columbine, sunflower, paintbrush, and other colorful varieties.
The pass itself reveals a spectacular view of Hasley Basin, with the 14,000 foot peak of Snowmass in direct view. The return leg is both on and off trails, making route finding a bit of a challenge.
At the Trailhead
Showers, T-Storms
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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
- From the West Maroon trailhead lot (1), the trail (2) winds through forest beside the Crystal River (3). A decaying cabin (4) marks the end of the trees, and the trail forks just past it. Bear right; the left branch is where the loop returns.
- Enter the wildflower fields (5) and take your time. The columbine (6) gets dense enough here to slow down hikers who had no intention of stopping.
- Just under 2 miles in, a junction hides well. Look for a short wooden sign under the brush (8) and take the left fork. The grade kicks up from here (7).
- Climb steeply to an alpine basin (10). The views back at West Maroon Pass are worth the stops you will be taking anyway (9).
- At the next junction follow the more defined trail left (11). The pass is a short climb from there (12), with Hasley Basin and the 14,000 foot summit of Snowmass straight ahead (13).
- Return the way you came (14). This is the recommended option.
- For the loop, leave the trail and traverse the base of the peaks across the basin [16] until a defined trail appears near the cliffs [15]. After a steep descent the trail flattens and swings north around the ridge; you want to turn south before that, following a shallow gully on your left and staying high on its left side. The trail re-emerges and rejoins the main one. There is no sign, so if routefinding is not your idea of fun, take the out and back.
Elevation Profile
Map and GPX
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.
Stay the Night
Nordic Inn
European-style inn at the base of the lifts and the first stop on the road toward the West Maroon trailhead. The hot tub is the reason to book it: eleven miles and a 12,490 foot pass leave you wanting one. Continental breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, and a lounge with a fireplace and a self-dispensing bar for the stories afterward.
Check AvailabilityLeave It Better
The locals have pitchforks. And camera phones.
And social media. Do not go viral.
Leave the Flowers
Do not pick, cut, or wade into them for the photograph. This valley is one of the best wildflower displays in Colorado precisely because generations of people walked past without helping themselves.
Photograph, Do Not Flatten
The best shot is almost always from the trail. Wading into a flower field for a better angle crushes stems that took the whole short summer to get up there, and the flattened patch stays visible for weeks after you post it.
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 Wildflower Walks
The bloom does not stop at this trailhead.
Good Questions
How long is the hike to Hasley Pass?
About 5.5 miles round trip with 1,816 feet of gain, from a 10,432 foot trailhead to the 12,120 foot pass. Figure 3.5 hours, more if the columbine is out.
How do I get to the Hasley Pass trailhead?
From Crested Butte, take Gothic Road north 14 miles over Schofield Pass. The established parking lot and trailhead sit on the right shortly after the pass. An SUV is recommended for the road over Schofield, and the drive takes about 45 minutes.
Is Hasley Pass easier than West Maroon Pass?
Yes. The two share the same trailhead and first couple of miles, but Hasley is shorter, gains less, and sees a fraction of the traffic. It is the better choice if you want the wildflowers without the parade.
Can you make Hasley Pass a loop?
You can, but part of the return has no trail: you traverse the basin below the peaks, pick up a path near the cliffs, and find an unmarked gully to drop back to the main trail. Confident navigators only. Everyone else should return the way they came.
