Red Cone

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4.9/5 (114 reviews)
Grant, Colorado (Park County)
Last Updated: 11/01/2023

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude Category Icon Altitude
Forest Category Icon Forest
Iconic Category Icon Iconic
Rock Category Icon Rock

Red Cone is one of the most iconic trails in central Colorado. This four-wheel-drive trail provides spectacular views of the divide, with several rocky obstacles at the beginning and a once-in-a-lifetime descent near the end. The upper portion of the trail traverses the ridge lines around 12,000 feet with views for miles, but the steep, one-way descent at the end is a unique feature of this trail. Red Cone is also a key connecting trail to nearby trails, such as Webster Pass and the Montezuma trail system. Combining this with those trails creates a full day of offroad fun. A well-equipped vehicle with high clearance and low range is required.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Red Cone's south end climbs steeply as you wind through the forest with sporadic rock obstacles, small creek crossings, and several muddy sections. The climb continues above the tree line, across a few ridges, until you reach the very top of Red Cone. At this point, the trail becomes one-way and descends downhill until it meets Webster Pass. The descent from Red Cone is a steep, loose rock hill requiring 4WD. This trail requires an experienced driver.

The east side of Webster Pass stays snowed in till late July or August, but Red Cone only opens for the season once the west side of Webster Pass is clear, so there is always an exit from the trail. Heading east down Webster would return you to Highway 285, and heading west on Webster will drop you into the towns of Montezuma or Keystone.

Trail Reviews

4.9/5 (114)
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Official Crew
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137550
Impassable
Visited: 10/29/2023

Recent snow storms have blanketed the trail creating dangerous driving conditions and rendering the trail impassable.
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Open
Visited: 10/22/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

As of 10/22/23 no snow or mud on the trail. Completely open. Running '22 Gladiator on 37", didn't have any issues and found the trail pretty easy.
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Official Crew
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130500
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/05/2023

Great trail, and can see why many people from Colorado say it is one of the best. The trail was easy in my opinion where the hardest part was squeezing through the trees. Could be the 38's Falkens that gave me the ground clearance to not have to worry about the rocks that could give people problems. But overall, such a beautiful trail. I would definitely run this trail again if someone invited me. Waypoint 3 looked exactly the same as it does in the photo. But waypoint 10 was way more dug out and had about 5 more extra holes you had to get through. But overall, a great trail and would do it again.
Trail Review: Red Cone - Josh Noesser
Trail Review: Red Cone - Josh Noesser
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Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 10/02/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Solo trip to one of the best trails within 1.5hrs of Denver! Fall colors coming out nicely this time of year. Pretty easy terrain, though 35s likely help.
Trail Review: Red Cone - Tyler Shalvarjian
Trail Review: Red Cone - Tyler Shalvarjian
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Open
Visited: 10/02/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

This trail was open and clear and the fall colors are in full swing. It was very windy the entire time as you are exposed to the elements. Highly recommend.

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