Buchanan Pass Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

West of the Middle Saint Vrain 4X4 TH is the Indian Peaks wilderness boundary. Inside the Indian Peaks Wilderness, campfires are not allowed. Year-round camping permit requirements exist for all groups between June 1 and September 15. Overnight permits are $5 per group, per trip from June 1 through September 15. Groups of more than 12 are not permitted. Packstock restrictions apply.

The Buchanan Pass TH is at the west end of Camp Dick Campground. Limited parking is available. Experienced drivers with a high-clearance 4WD vehicle can continue 3.6 miles further to Middle Saint Vrain 4X4 TH. Open seasonally, this is a rough 4WD EXTREME road. The Buchanan Pass trail runs on the other side of the creek than the 4WD road. When on one, you'd never know the other is there.

This trail is in a beautiful setting, running up the St. Vrain drainage. There are beautiful colors here in the fall. It's possible to encounter elk and moose along this trail, so keep an eye out.

The trail meanders along the side of St. Vrain Creek making its way up the valley towards the high peaks in the west. After about four miles, there is another trailhead - this is where the 4WD road ends. It's possible to turn this trail into a loop by following the 4WD road back down. Continue upward and you're rewarded with stunning views of some of the Indian Peaks. Sawtooth Mountain is especially awesome looking from here.

For those wanting to continue onward, the trail begins a very large switchback at this point. It heads north toward the St. Vrain Glacier. After a mile or two, the trail will intersect with the Saint Vrain Glacier Trail which, of course, will take you up to the glacier. Stay on the Buchanan Pass Trail and it will cross the creek and head back down south. Note, the footbridge over this creek was washed out the last time I was there.

Another mile or so and the trail intersects with the Red Deer Lake Trail. This trail is easy to miss, it's a sharp right-hand turn (to the west) in the midst of the woods. Stay on the Buchanan Pass trail and it continues a bit more to the south before turning west to take you up to the pass.

From the pass, ten miles of trail continues west on the other side of the Continental Divide and connects with the Cascade Trail.