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Mount Flora

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 4.7 (46)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. Berthoud Pass
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“Follow the CDT to 360-degree views on a ridgeline hike along the Continental Divide. ”

Cam Morton
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Map Key

6.4

Miles

10.2

KM

Out and Back

13,078' 3,986 m

High

11,324' 3,452 m

Low

1,754' 534 m

Up

1,753' 534 m

Down

10%

Avg Grade (6°)

47%

Max Grade (25°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views · Wildflowers

Overview

Follow the CDT (plus a fun spur trail) to 360-degree views on a ridgeline hike along the Continental Divide. At the beginning, a large parking lot with bathrooms (porta-potties due to COVID-19) and easy access right off Highway 40 between Idaho Springs and Winter Park makes access a breeze. The hike can be shortened to just reach the ridgeline if desired (1.7 miles one way, 3.4 round-trip).

Description

This hike offers a great option to see breathtaking Colorado mountain views, including multiple 14ers as well as Rocky Mountain National Park from a distance. It can also be shortened to just reach the Continental Divide ridgeline, which you reach 1.7 miles in.

Start at the Berthoud Pass parking lot. Follow the fire road up a couple of gradual and easy switchbacks. Keep an eye out for a small sign at the corner of one of the switchbacks for "Mt. Flora Trail" (really the CDT), which will take you off of the fire road and on a more direct route up to the ridgeline. At the sign, continue straight (north) on this aforementioned trail.

Once you reach the ridgeline, prepare for long-ranging views here on out. Turn left onto the ridgeline and follow the CDT upwards to the Mt. Flora summit. Take in the views, then backtrack down the way you came, for a grand total of ~6.4 miles.

In Winter: Be aware of avalanche terrain just below the trail on the northern side of Colorado Mines Peak. You can avoid this by following the road to just below the summit of Colorado Mines Peak, walking down along the ridge to the saddle between Colorado Mines and Flora, and rejoining the standard route there. This will add a about a mile and an additional 300' of elevation gain to the route.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Office

Shared By:

Cam Morton with improvements by Zach Novak and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.7 from 46 votes

#1

in Berthoud Pass

#223

Overall
  4.7 from 46 votes
5 Star
76%
4 Star
20%
3 Star
4%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Berthoud Pass

#53

in Colorado

#223

Overall
52 Views Last Month
11,744 Since Oct 16, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
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21%
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Photos

Colorado Mines Peak weather station from the snowy ridgeline
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
Blue Lake from the ridgeline
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
CDT northbound to Mt Flora (top-right)
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
Berthoud Pass from the trail coming back down
Oct 17, 2017 near Winter…, CO
On the trail with Mom
Jul 17, 2019 near Winter…, CO
Continental Divide Trail (CDT) at Flora Peak, Colorado
Jul 17, 2019 near Winter…, CO

1 Comment

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 72 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Sep 23, 2023
Bobby Kane
All clear. 6.5mi — 2h 18m
Sep 17, 2023
Jill Out
6.4mi
Dec 18, 2022
Matt Culpepper
To CO Mines Peak via the doubletrack on packed snow and on to Peak 12845 and back around Mines on a bit of sketchy wind-swept ice. (6.9/2100) 6.9mi
Aug 27, 2022
Private User
Jul 31, 2022
Logan Shaver
Jun 15, 2022
Ryan Rossell
Jun 4, 2022
Andrew N
Soft snow as day got warmer. Postholing up to thighs in bottom section. — 3h 30m
Sep 12, 2021
T H

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