Colorado Trail (Segment 6): Kenosha Pass to Goldhill

This section of the Colorado Trail, Kenosha Pass toward Goldhill, is absolutely beautiful with Rocky Mountain views and views of South Park valley area. If you have ever hiked any section of the Colorado Trail, you know that it’s a fun experience to be on a trail that winds 468 miles through beautiful Colorado.

This trailhead is easily accessible by car with parking along the west side of Hwy 285.

The trail begins just off of Hwy 285 at Kenosha Pass campground. From there, the trail leads through pine and aspen forest for about 2 miles until it emerges at the edge of an enormous valley overlooking South Park and Fairplay. The surrounding peaks to the south and west are part of the Mosquito Range.

This is a fantastic section of trail. There are many wildflowers and butterflies in the area and the open trail along the side of the hill allows you to see views overlooking the massive plains and valley below. We usually hike down the side of this south-facing hill and into the woods until we come to a large clearing on the right side of the trail (it looks like a good place to camp and could have been a lake at one time; now all dried up). It’s a good area to rest, take-in the scenery, have a bite to eat and then head back for the parking lot.
No Restrooms available at parking lot.

Other trails in this area you may enjoy: Colorado Trail Kenosha Pass to Long Gulch segment

Picnic recommendation:
Once you come over the hill and see the valley and the Rockies in the distance, use the wooden bench or continue on the trail to the field pictured above (this is our favorite place to stop and then head back to the car; making it a 4-mile round trip hike. The entire segment ending at Goldhill is 32 miles)!