Trail Overview
Taylor Pass is an iconic, challenging high-mountain offroad route connecting Aspen to the Taylor Park Reservoir, offering experienced drivers rugged terrain and breathtaking alpine views. This 14.6-mile trail climbs from 9,394 feet up to an elevation of 11,935 feet at the pass, providing a demanding test of driver skill and vehicle capability. This route features steep climbs, loose shale, and a notorious rock garden filled with bowling ball-sized boulders that require careful tire placement and high clearance. Traveling from the Aspen side, drivers will ascend along Express Creek, negotiating multiple stream crossings that can swell with deep, rushing water during the early summer snowmelt.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle with high clearance, low range, and at least 33-inch all-terrain tires is highly recommended, while skid plates and rock sliders are strongly advised to protect against the relentless rocky obstacles. Offroaders in SxSs and unmodified high-clearance vehicles can tackle the trail, but less-experienced drivers may find the rugged, bumpy terrain slow-going, particularly when navigating the more challenging reverse direction up from the Taylor Park side. Beautiful, dispersed campsites are available near the pristine Taylor Lake and along Taylor River Road, making this a perfect multi-day adventure when combined with nearby trails like Pearl Pass. Unlicensed vehicles can ride in reverse from the Taylor Park side but must stop at the pass, as unlicensed vehicles are not permitted on the Aspen side.
History
In the 1880s, Ashcroft served as a major supply hub for silver mining operations in the Aspen region. The rugged road over Taylor Pass was constructed to transport stagecoaches and heavy freight from Buena Vista and Taylor Park. However, as Aspen's prominence grew and a superior route was established over Independence Pass, the Taylor Pass road was quickly abandoned. The arrival of the railroads in Aspen during the late 1880s permanently sealed Ashcroft's decline into a ghost town.
Access Description
Unlicensed vehicles are permitted on the Taylor Park side of the pass but are strictly prohibited from crossing over to the Aspen side. The trail is typically accessible from late summer through early autumn, as heavy snowpacks block the pass well into July, and fallen trees are common in the early spring.
