Switzerland Trail

Total Miles
5.4

Elevation

2,767.94 ft

Duration

2.5 Hours

Technical Rating

2

Easy

Best Time

Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

It is amazing to consider what it must have been like to be on a train winding down the steep terrain on this trail. The scenery is fantastic, especially in the fall. If you want a longer adventure, continue north. Trail is open all year.

Difficulty

Easy. Roads are mildly rocky and maintenance is minimal due to the gentle grades. Single-lane width in places. Be careful around blind curves. Suitable for almost any high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive SUV.

History

In 1883, a railroad was built to the town of Sunset. It was later extended to the town of Ward and followed roughly the same path as the road you follow up the north side. It made a stop at the Mt. Alto Pavilion, now just a picnic area. Later,in 1905, the railroad was extended south from Sunset to reach Eldora, a thriving mining town at the time. A flood in 1919 washed out most of the track.

Technical Rating

2

Status Reports

Rob Waring
Mar 12, 2024
4x4
Open
Snow/Ice
Drove a stock Toyota Tacoma. Trail was covered in snow that had been packed down by previous drivers. It was a relatively easy trail, however, I would recommend 4x4 and high clearance given the current conditions.
Jade A
Mar 09, 2024
2023 Toyota RAV4
Open
Muddy/Wet
Snow/Ice
Nathan Anderson
Feb 25, 2024
1976 Dodge D-Series
Open
Snow/Ice
Normal
Muddy/Wet
Overall, completely open and no major snow obstacles. There were a few icy sections on inclines, but they were manageable while traveling east to west. Traveling west to east might present some traction issues. The rest of the trail was dry dirt, mixed with a few muddy sections.
Fred Zukowski
Feb 01, 2024
4x4
Open
Snow/Ice
Just some deep snow patches about 12-16 inches deep

Access Description

From Boulder, take Highway 119 to Nederland, then head north at the roundabout on Highway 72. Turn right on unmarked C.R.120 just after mile marker 38. The drive from Boulder is shorter if you start at Waypoint 02. Turn right off Highway119 onto paved Sugarloaf Road 122. Go northwest 4.6 miles and turn right uphill on C.R. 93. Road winds uphill through residential area to parking lot at 0.7 mile.

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