Iron Chest

4.9/5 (14 reviews)
St. Elmo, Colorado (Chaffee County)
Last Updated: 08/28/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Lifts, lockers, driving experience and a set of calm nerves are required to tackle the trip up to the Iron Chest Mine. The rock garden at the beginning of this off-road trail is just one of the unique features, combined with the aerial views of St. Elmo below along the way, that make this one of the most authentic trails in Central Colorado. If you like mining history, rock gardens, shelf roads, epic views and spending time above timberline then this trail should be on your bucket list.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

4.9/5 (14 reviews)
Official Crew
30100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/28/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Amazing late summer day! Not another person in sight all day.
600
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/16/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

The boulder field at the beginning was fun. The rocks continually move underneath you so it makes picking lines even more fun! This trail is not for the faint of heart from the start as there is truly only two places to pass the whole way up. But the views were amazing.
Official Crew
30100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/26/2022
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

A day in the clouds. Quick drive up and back, didn’t see anyone else outside our group.
600
Open
Rated 4/5
Visited: 07/14/2021

This trail grabs you from the get go! The boulder field at the beginning of the trail is not to be dealt with lightly. We did in our side by side in the pouring rain. Tried to run a few years ago on our quads and gave up. Glad we finally were able to do. No traffic until we went all the way up and got into the boulder field at the bottom on the way down before we met any traffic. There is literally no place to pull out if you meet on coming traffic, so got lucky. Even with the rain, the views were pretty amazing.
Official Crew
30100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 06/14/2021

We cut through three snowdrifts and the trail is fully open.

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