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 Webster Pass

Length: Approx. 5 miles roundtrip
Highlights: Red Cone - No mystery here as to the origin of its name!
Difficulty Rating: moderate
Elevation Gain: Approx. 1,100 ft.
Directions:
Take Route 6 east from Silverthorne to Keystone Resort - at Keystone look for Montezuma Rd. (on the right) and take this for about 7 miles to the town of Montezuma. About .9 mile past Montezuma you will see a sign on the right that says "Trail Parking one-half mile" with an arrow pointing straight ahead. Look to your LEFT  and you will see a 4wd road - this is the road to Webster Pass, turn here! Proceed about 1.4 miles to a clearing and camp site on your left just before a stream crossing. Park here to begin your hike.

This is a fairly rugged road that is best traversed via 4WD but the SCE staff has been able to come this far via 2WD on numerous occasions.

Above: Just starting out. We're a little ways down the trail, looking back to the parking lot,
our starting point 

 

 Below: After about a mile you come to the "Deer Creek 3 Miles" sign. Take the fork to the left.


 

  
Description:

Begin your hike by crossing the stream and following the 4WD road through the gulch for about a mile until you come to a sign that says "Deer Creek 3 miles." Take the fork to your left and you will see Webster Pass - it is the saddle between 12,800' Red Cone on your left and Handcart Peak on the right (south).

From here you eventually ascend a series of switchbacks to the saddle at about 12,114 feet.

 

  
In the summer the road is fairly heavily traveled with motorbikes, ATV's and others lured by the unsurpassed beauty of Red Cone Jeep Trail.

So, if you want some time to quietly enjoy this spectacular area we recommend NOT doing this on the weekend.
Above:  It gets a little steeper towards the top of the pass.
Above: Your destination, the saddle between Red Cone and handcart on the right is almost visible from the beginning of the trail.

 

  
Most four wheelers are friendly folks and you can derive a justifiable feeling of superiority as you wave to the more indolent members of this sub-cult as they pass by.

The great thing about this hike is that the views begin immediately and continue beyond the pass where you can look southeast into Pike

Above: Webster Pass at 12,114 feet elevation. Above: View of the beautiful Red Cone from Webster Pass
National Forest and the South Park Trail or continue on to the top of Red Cone or Handcart Peak if you want more of a challenge.

This hike provides yet another example of why, as summit county explorers, WE LIKE TO BE ON TOP !
Left: Looking east across the snow field at the top of the pass into Pike National Forest Above: Webster Pass
   
Below: Be careful on the snowfields near Handcart Peak...    

 

  


 
"I LIKE TO BE ON TOP"
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  beginner intermediate advanced
    Black Powder Pass   Mohawk Lake   Quandary Peak  14,265'
    Lily Pad   Chihuahua Gulch   Lincoln & Bross 14,291' / 14,177'
    St. John's   Mt. Royal   Bierstadt Peak 14,060'
    Mayflower Gulch   Wheeler Lakes   Willow & Salmon Lakes
    Loveland Pass   Radical Hill Trail   Upper Crystal Lake
    Salt Lick Trail   McCullough Gulch   Gray's & Torrey's 14,278' / 14,267'
    Mesa Cortina Trail   Mt. Sniktau   Mt. Democrat 14,152'
    St. Mary's Glacier   North Ten Mile Trail   Mt. Victoria
    Sally Barber Mine   Willow Falls  

Mt. Elbert  14,433'
    Oro Grande Trail   Eaglesmere Lakes   Buffalo Mountain  12,777'
    Meadow Creek-Salt Lick   Mosquito Pass   Eccles Pass
    Shrine Mountain Trail   Webster Pass   Mt. Huron  14,003'
    Ptarmigan Trail   Ptarmigan via Wilder Gulch    
    Peaks Tr. Barton Gulch   Wheeler Lake - Park County    
    Hoosier Pass Loop   Lenawee Trail    

 

  Spruce Creek Loop NEW! Nightmare on Baldy Mine    
  NEW! Tenderfoot Mountain Trail        
   

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Note: The Summit County Explorer website is for entertainment purposes only. SCE will not be held liable for the any accidents or injuries resulting from the activities listed on this site. Trail conditions change daily and we assume no responsibility for the safety of any individual during any of these activities. Please consult actual trail guides and maps before attempting any of the activities mentioned here.