Parkview Mountain

Parkview Mountain (12,297 feet) is the highest peak in the Rabbit Ears Range. This 9.4-mile round-trip hike begins at Willow Creek Pass along Highway 125, starting at an elevation of 9,610 feet and climbing 2,937 feet to the summit area. The route gently ascends a forested ridgeline before emerging above the treeline. Once out of the forest, the trail steepens with switchbacks to reach the summit ridge of Parkview Mountain, which leads to the top. A small historic summit shelter, built in 1916 as a fire observatory, sits at the peak and is noted as one of the highest-elevation structures of its kind in the United States. On clear days, the summit offers panoramic views of the Flat Tops, Gore Range, Tenmile Range, Collegiate Peaks, and the Front Range. Hikers should carry ample water as natural sources are limited to seasonal snowmelt. While the primary descent follows the ascent trail, an alternative loop involves continuing across the summit ridge and descending cross-country to a 4x4 road that returns to Highway 125 near Willow Creek Pass.