Skull Pass

Total Miles
0.8

Elevation

2,498.07 ft

Duration

0.5 Hours

Technical Rating

6

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

Skull Pass is one of the more challenging trails in Hartman Rocks, and it's also unique because it goes through more of a small forest compared to the rest of the trails in the rec area that go through expansive open sagebrush hills. This one has some foliage and some shade. You have to duck under juniper trees and small aspen trees. It climbs up a slope with some loose rocks and embedded chunks of rock and goes between a rock pinch from boulders lining the trail. It winds around through the rocks and pine trees, then comes up to a more complex rock zone, a big rock slab with several small ledges up and down. It's slabby, and you could most likely tractor up it, but if it was wet or you didn't have a good tire, you could be sliding on it. It goes through more trees with tight, twisty turns, then down moderately steep slab sections. This trail is closed from March 15 - May 15 for sage grouse conservation. An old Skull is hanging on a tree stump when you enter from the north, which is maybe why it's called Skull Pass. It also goes through the historic Aberdeen Quarry, which is private property.

Photos of Skull Pass

Skull Pass
Skull Pass

Difficulty

This is an intermediate trail with a few more challenging rock obstacles that will require technical skill to get up and down taller and steeper ledges.

Technical Rating

6

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

Access Description

There are a few different trailheads and staging areas for the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area in Gunnison, Colorado. The main Day Use area is at the entrance to Kill Hill Road. Bambi's Trailhead accesses the east side of the recreation area, and is on County Road 38 about 3 miles south of the main entrance. McCabe's Trailhead accesses the west side of the recreation area, which is on County Road 32, about 1.5 miles south of Highway 50.

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