Hayden Trail

Alan Cook, Jason Nelson, and Lisa Nelson were joined by Raliegh Coburn for this little adventure. We started in Ironton and ended at Camp Bird Road.  Trip distance was around 6 miles, with an altitude gain of 2,287 feet and topping out at over 12,000′.  It took us aprx. 3 hrs.  

 

ATTRACTIONS AND FEATURES:
This trail takes you up into a remote area. Round trip to the ridge is 4.4 miles with an altitude gain of 2,287 feet. As you gain altitude, views open up looking back across Cañon Creek to Whitehouse Mountain and Potosi Peak. After a half-mile, the trail ascends Squaw Gulch steeply for a half-mile of switchbacks, which require care in choice of route. After finally crossing the gulch, the trail is much easier for the second mile of forest and meadow. A rewarding rest stop is reached at 1.2 miles, where an open ridge provides an overlook to Ouray and beyond. As you gain the saddle at over 12,000 feet, impressive vistas open up before you.

The hike can be continued on southward for 1.2 mles, where the trail begins descending to Ironton Park. The snowshed is seen far below and the needle mountains are in the distance. Round trip to Ironton is 11.2 miles with an additional altitude gain of 363 feet before the descent.

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
The trail is steep. Careful route-finding is needed through waist-high plants in several areas. Going south from the saddle (from Camp Bird side) or north from the high ridge (from Ironton side) leads to open slopes with exposure to the weather and some treacherous footing.

More info at ouraytrails.org or http://www.ouraytrails.org/trails06.html#hayden