20 Attractions to Explore Near Cottonwood Pass

This is an awesome trail that takes hikers all the way from the trailhead off of 306, along Ptarmigan Creek, and out to Ptarmigan Lake. This 6.5-mile round trip hike takes visitors from the trailhead, through the forest, alongside lakes, and finally to the majestic Ptarmigan Lake itself. The trail is spectacular and offers visitors one the best wildflower viewing spots during the month of July.

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is a 168,000-acre area located in central Colorado between Leadville and Buena Vista to the east and Aspen to the west and Crested Butte to the southwest. There are numerous alpine creeks in the area's wide valleys and these are all quite marshy. Snow does not usually begin to melt until May or June and it remains year-round in places on some of the high peaks.

Ptarmigan Lake is a remote lake that sits at 12,147 feet in elevation above Chaffee County, Colorado. This lake offers breathtaking views and ample outdoor activities, making it a very popular destination during the summer and fall. visitors must hike up 3 miles of gradual incline, and are rewarded with an astonishing view of the blue water surrounded by towering peaks, pines, and glaciers.

This is a popular trail, which is gentle, family friendly grade with amazing destinations. The natural water slide area at Denny Creek is a must visit for families. The trails offer an authentic mountain experience as they go through the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness.

Mount Yale is the eighth highest peak in the Sawatch Range and twenty-first in the state on Colorado. There are two routes up the mountain, each with accessible trailheads year-round. This makes it a good training peak for more difficult hikes and climbs. With lots of camping in the area, it’s a great opportunity to stay and climb several Sawatch 14ers in one trip.

Ice Mountain is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North. The 13,958-foot thirteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, 17.1 miles west-northwestn of the Town of Buena Vista, Colorado. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do.

A majestic peak located in the heart of Chaffee and it offers a beautiful, streamside hike up to a unique lake, interesting ridge combinations, and panoramic views from atop the Continental Divide, this may be your mountain. It offers not only offers awesome scenery above timberline, but also below.

The Avalanche trailhead is a major access point for the Colorado Trail near Buena Vista. This is a popular trailhead for winter recreationists and provides ample parking for the many snowmobilers who converge on the area. Weekend snowmobilers love to ride to the top of Cottonwood Pass and over the Continental Divide to Taylor Park.

Emerald Peak is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch. The 13,911-foot thirteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 14.7 miles west-northwest of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. It is a good trekking destination and also it offers beautiful views and also it offers so many adventure options too.

A beautiful lake located in the middle of a small forest and is famous for fishing and so many other leisure activities. The lake has such a scenic setting nestled within the mountains. Water access is easy and though the water is cold.

Mount Columbia is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,077-foot fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 9.9 milesnorthwest by west of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado. This trail is great for birding, horseback riding, and mountain biking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring.

Mt. Harvard is the third highest peak in Colorado and only one of three 14ers within Colorado that rises above 14,400 feet. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 49 min to complete. This is a very popular area for camping, fishing, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Huron Peak is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. IT is separated from them by deep cols, resulting in a moderately high topographic prominence. The main route to the summit of Huron Peak begins from the Clear Creek / South Winfield Trailhead. To reach the trailhead, drive westbound on Chaffee County 390 off U.S. Highway 24.

The North Cottonwood trail travels west for 4.3 miles to Kroenke Lake. The trail has numerous creek crossing and is lush and green with alpine vegetation. Take advantage of this trail in the peak of summer for wildflower season with July being the best month for the breathtaking flowers.

Missouri Mountain is a high mountain summit in the Collegiate Peaks of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. This mountain offers one of the few opportunities for any technical climbing in the Sawatch Range. It is possible to climb Belford, Oxford and Missouri together, but it makes for a long, hard day. This is a popular trail for camping, hiking, and snowshoeing, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

The Taylor Park Reservoir is a body of water created by the 1937 Taylor Park Dam, which dams the Taylor River of Colorado, United States. The dam and reservoir, located about 35 miles northeast of Gunnison, are part of the Uncompahgre Project in Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its fishing and boating, and abundant off-road and biking opportunities. A boat ramp is located just below the campground. Fishing and pontoon boat rentals are available at the marina.

Napoleon Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is the saddle between Napoleon Mountain to the west and Fitzpatrick Peak to the east and divides the watersheds of Middle Willow Creek to the north and Quartz Creek to the south. Napoleon Pass is traversed by Forest Trail 540 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south.

Taylor Park Dam is on the Taylor River, a tributary of the Gunnison River. The dam is a zoned earthfill structure 206 feet high, with a crest length of 675 feet and a volume of 1,115,000 cubic yards. It creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 106,200 acre-feet. Available fish species in the reservoir include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, mackinaw, kokanee, northern pike, and brook trout in the tributaries.

Mount Belford is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,203-foot fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 15.0 miles northwest by west of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. A good trekking destination and also it offers breath taking views.

Mount Oxford is a high mountain summit of the Collegiate Peaks in the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County. The 14,160-foot fourteener is located in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 14.2 miles northwest of the Town of Buena Vista in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. The mountain was named in honor of the University of Oxford.