Baldy Trail

Distance: 6.8 - 7.9 miles (round trip)

Uncompahgre National Forest, near Ouray in Southwest Colorado

Close-up of Mount Sneffels from Baldy Peak

Close-up of Mount Sneffels from Baldy Peak

 

The moderate hike to Baldy Peak features great views and an interesting perspective of the high peaks of the Ouray Region.
See Trail Detail/Full Description

  • Distance: 6.8 miles (round trip) to Baldy Peak
  • Elevation: 8,485-ft. at Trailhead
    10,603-ft. at Baldy Peak
  • Elevation Gain: 2,118-ft. to Baldy Peak
  • Difficulty: moderate
  • More Hikes in:
    Ouray / Southwest Colorado

Why Hike Baldy Trail

The Baldy trail rewards hikers with great, albeit distance views, with only a moderate expenditure of effort. Starting at a relatively low elevation, the trail climbs through trees and meadows and then along ridges with terrific views of the Sneffels and Cimarron Ranges along with the high peaks to the south along Highway 550 and Yankee Boy Basin. Atop Baldy Peak the views get even better. From this modest overlook at 10,603-ft. hikers gain a great perspective of the Mount Sneffels area and the high peaks surrounding the Ouray area.

This hike is good choice for the shoulder seasons. The relatively low elevation of the destination also makes the trail suitable for parties trying to acclimate or if bad weather is threatening the high country.

When the access road is dry, the trailhead is accessible by 2WD vehicles with good clearance. Check with the Ouray Visitor Center for current road conditions before setting out.

Elevation Profile

Elevation Profile - Baldy Peak Trail

Best Hiking in Southwest Colorado around Ouray, Telluride and Silverton

Buy the Book

This opinionated guide includes all the hikes in the Ouray, Telluride, Silverton and Lake City sections of the website plus info on local services and nearby attractions.

Kindle Edition

Paperback Edition

EPub Edition

 

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:

Region Information:
Southwest Colorado

Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado