Kilpacker Trail

Dogs Leashed

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

This trail, with generally low grades and a dirt path, makes for a nice run. However, the mountains above it cannot be run and the lower forest near Kilpacker Trailhead is often overgrown.

From Telluride, drive south on CO 145 over Lizard Head Pass. Continue south for 5.1 miles and turn right onto Forest Road (FR) 535. Drive 5 more miles on 2WD dirt road to reach the signed Kilpacker Trailhead. Turn right and drive 0.1 miles to camping and the start of the trail.

If doing the entire Wilson Group in one day, camp here. Start up Kilpacker trailhead around 3 AM. This way it will be light by the time you start scrambling on El Diente, but you'll still have enough time to bail down Navajo Lake Trail if the weather should turn, or to continue up Wilson Peak Trail and down to the Rock of Ages Trail if weather permits, thus completing the grand slam.

From the Kilpacker Trailhead, run NW out of the clearing and into dense forest. Follow the gradual, dirt trail through the forest, coming across occasional erosion. Every once in a while you may have to briefly leave the trail and bushwhack back to it. This need is rare and it's hard to get lost. In about 2.5 miles, come to a junction at 10,300 ft. Turning left will take you to a junction with Navajo Lake Trail in about one more mile. Lose about 200 ft of elevation en route to the junction, gaining some back right beforehand.

Staying to the right of this junction will take you to El Diente Southern Slopes and the Wilson Group.

This trail boasts some of the densest forest in Colorado. Otherwise, there are deer, pika, and marmots, but not much else.