Billings Lake

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4.1/5 (24 reviews)
Maysville, Colorado (Chaffee County)
Last Updated: 11/01/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

The Pride of the West Tunnel is not a mine such as others in the area. Rather it was a "Toll Tunnel" That connected the Billings Lake Valley and the townsite of Hancock to the north near Buena Vista by boring through Pomeroy Mountain. This tunnel predates rail travel through the area by 2 years. The ornate stonework with the keystone engraved with "Pride of the West Tunnel 1880" were used as the backdrop by photographers taking pictures for prospective investors. A two story hotel stood as the connecting stone structure.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.1/5 (24)
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Official Crew
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28400
Impassable
Visited: 11/01/2023

Snow has begun to fall in the Colorado High Country making travel risky. Although the route may not be blocked by snow as of yet, the unpredictable conditions this time of year make travel unsafe. See you next year!
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1200
Open
Visited: 07/18/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Clear all the way to the top.
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500
Open
Rated 3/5
Visited: 06/24/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

There are still some deep drifts near waypoint 10 preventing you from getting all the way up, but they should be gone soon. Road is getting rougher and rougher every year.
Trail Review: Billings Lake - Patrick
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6700
Partially Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 11/25/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Black Friday trail run! Trail is in good condition. No gates closed. We made it to WP 8 until we were stopped by a lot of snow. I’m not sure how much further we could have made it. I definitely recommend chains. There’s a lot of ice between WP 6 and 7. I couldn’t make it without the chains but there were tracks ahead of me. I was the farthest tracks so no tracks from WP 8 onward. Very beautiful.
Trail Review: Billings Lake - Ben Jimbo
Trail Review: Billings Lake - Ben Jimbo
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Official Crew
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119750
Seasonal Closure
Visited: 11/24/2022

Closed for the season! See you next year!

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