Description
The northern slope of Georgia Pass begins as a relatively tame dirt road. Gradually, it becomes more rough, rocky, and narrow. The last mile before the summit is the hardest section with some tight rocky areas and some rutted, washed out dirt.
The southern slope is all wide open dirt roads. Because of this, and because the summit is part of the Colorado Trail, it is sometimes crowded with sight-seers, hikers and their cars. Since the north slope is more interesting, it is usually run from north to south.
Cell phone signals are spotty at best throughout the trail.
The nearest emergency room is at St. Anthony Summit Medical Center (970-668-3300), located just off CO-9 south of Frisco. Summit County Sheriff office (970-453-2232) is on CO-9 in Breckenridge.
The summit area is often crowded with sight-seers and hikers. Take your time and keep your eyes peeled.
Waypoints
1. North Trailhead
(0 mi)
Adjacent to Snow Caps, a sled dog company, FS 355 leaves FS 6 at a right turn (west). Cross the dredge tailings and turn left (south). For a good while, the road is wide and well maintained.
This area is a mix of private land and Summit County Open Space. No camping is allowed.
2. American Gulch/GH93
(0.8 mi)
At a well marked fork,
American Gulch/Humbug Hill, splits to the right (east). Go left, across a narrow bridge.
Immediately after the bridge, a narrow trail goes left. This is a nice camping area with a short cut to
Middle Fork Swan via a water crossing.
3. Seasonal Gate
(1.1 mi)
The gate is closed from November through May, "or until road is dry," which could be well into June if the previous winter was unusually snowy.
4. Camping Fork 1 of 3
(1.5 mi)
To the right, is the first of three access points to a road that runs parallel to this trail. The road has several campsites that range from large sites suitable for small campers to small, rough, sloped sites that may only invite hammocks.
It should be noted that this "camping road" had a couple of muddy, rocky spots that may damage low clearance trailers. Scout it out before you haul it.
A few yards beyond this fork are some cabin ruins.
This section was once a long, shallow water crossing, but in 2017, the Forest Service filled it in with gravel. There is still a small water crossing if you take the right fork onto the camping road.
5. Former Home Site - NO CAMPING!
(2.3 mi)
This site was once a popular campsite. There was also an old house that was popular with squatters. In 2017, the Forest Service razed both.
Please respect the signage keep your wheels and your feet off the new vegetation. NO CAMPING at this site!
6. Camping Fork 2 of 3
(2.8 mi)
To the right, across a shallow water crossing, is the second of three access points to the camping road mentioned in Waypoint 4.
Continue straight on FS 355.
From here on, there are quite a few unmarked or poorly marked intersections. Most of these spurs either rejoin the trail later or dead end. Some offer nice campsites. As a general rule, stay on the more established trail.
7. Fork - Stay Right
(3 mi)
Take the right fork to stay on FS 355. The left spur dead ends.
8. Camping Fork 3 of 3
(3 mi)
Here, a sharp right is the last of the three access points to the camping road mentioned in Waypoint 4.
9. Unmarked Fork - Stay Left
(3.1 mi)
Take the left fork to stay on FS 355. The right fork dead ends at a large campsite.
10. Unmarked Fork - Stay Left
(3.2 mi)
Continue straight. The trail to the right joins the previous fork which dead ends at a large campsite.
11. Gate
(3.4 mi)
There is an established turn-around here in case the gate is locked. The next section of trail is very narrow with few opportunities to pass. If you have to back up to allow a downhill vehicle through, this is a good spot.
12. Fork - Stay Left
(3.6 mi)
This hard left is easy to miss. Don't worry if you miss it. Going straight accesses a private gate, then leads back to the main trail.
13. Switchback/Meadow
(3.7 mi)
There's a very narrow and off camber switchback leading down into this wide meadow. Some bone heads thought it would be fun to create a short cut here. Please don't be a bone head. STAY THE TRAIL!
14. The Sluice Box
(3.8 mi)
For a couple hundred hards, the trail becomes very narrow and rocky. Trees crowd both sides and spring water flows down this "sluice" year round.
Well into June (sometimes July!), this spring water, joined by snow runoff, freezes into a treacherous ice rink. (See third pic.) Skill and momentum can get you through (and lockers don't hurt). However, some folks chicken out and take a bypass to the right. PLEASE don't take this bypass in Spring or early Summer! It is muddy and easily damaged.
15. Trail Braiding
(4.3 mi)
As the trees thin out, the trail gets considerably steeper with banked turns and washouts.
[UPDATE: As of the summer of 2020, the Forest Service has destroyed and blocked off the braided routes, leaving only the tamest way through, to the far right (heading uphill). See the 3rd pic here for the new look.]
Just before the summit, the trail is badly braided, with several variations through the washouts and ruts. It's impossible to say what is the "right way" through this, but still, please stay the trail! If the trail is too wet or snow covered or just too difficult, it's better to turn back than to destroy the tundra.
16. Summit
(4.5 mi)
The summit is wide and flat. There will likely be a few cars parked here that came up the southern approach. Keep an eye out for hikers and cyclists.
Several trails lead off from the summit. 355.1C and 355A are short spurs that dead end. 258 is the
Glacier Ridge 4WD trail that leads to
SOB Hill (a.k.a. Number 10 Road). This also connects to the Colorado Trail not far from the summit.
The south side of the pass follows CR 54, a wide and relatively smooth road.
17. Collapsed Cabin
(5.1 mi)
On the right is a large, collapsed cabin. Behind it is a nice campsite.
18. Large Camping/Parking Area
(8.2 mi)
There are a couple of very large, flat parking areas here, often populated with larger RVs, overlanders, and empty ATV/UTV trailers.
19. Michigan Creek Trailhead
(9.7 mi)
20. Michigan Creek Campground
(10.4 mi)
To the right is the Michigan Creek Campground. Find more information on this facility in the Camping section below.
21. Southern Trailhead
(11 mi)
FS 870, to the right, leads up to the Michigan Reservoirs.
Continue downhill on CR 54. At a T-intersection, turn left onto CR 35 to get to US 285 at Jefferson.
While your there grab a burger and shake at the Hungry Moose Caboose!
