Sunnyside Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildlife

If running on the portions of the trail below the radio tower, be aware that it becomes fairly technical with multiple outcroppings of rocks jutting onto the trail.

The Sunnyside trailhead is directly off of McLain Flats Road, with a 10± vehicle parking lot on the opposite side of the road as the trail's start. If this parking lot is full, you can find additional parking at the Henry Stein Park located where Cemetery Lane/McLain Flats Rd. crosses the Roaring Fork River. If you choose to park here, start your hike by heading down the Rio Grande Trail (packed gravel bike path), and look for a singletrack trail heading uphill ~1,000 feet past the parking lot. This trail connects to the upper parking area on McLain Flats Rd.

Starting with a relatively low grade, the trail grows steeper soon after the beginning and is then a long, steady zig-zag climb toward the top of the mountain, with the exception of a flat traverse of about a quarter mile. Obvious directional signage is present along the entire trail.

The beginning of the trail has slight Aspen tree coverage, transitioning into low brush. Eventually, the trail passes a small radio tower, which sits among a quiet Aspen grove at the top of the major switchbacks on Red Mountain. The most difficult portion of the trail, in terms of elevation gain and steepness, exists from the trailhead to this point at the radio tower.

Moving further along the trail, signs appear for the Shadyside Trail. To stay on the Sunnyside Trail, keep to the right. The Sunnyside Trail traverses high across the face of Red Mountain before reaching a further intersection with the Shadyside Trail, at which point one should once again stay to the right. The trail continues through dense forest before concluding at its intersection with Repeater Road. At this point, it is possible to follow Repeater Road as a connector to other trail systems in the area.

From the trail, particularly below the radio tower, there are sweeping views of Independence Pass to all four of the Aspen/Snowmass ski mountains and the high peaks in between. This vantage is considered by many to have the best views of Capitol Peak and Mt. Daly.

Many hikers will turn around before the traverse across the top of Red Mountain. Base your turn-around point on how prepared you are to be in the backcountry, the weather, and your ability to descend through technical terrain on the way back to the trailhead. Note that on this trail, the further you go before turning around the more likely you are to find solitude!

The Sunnyside/Red Mountain area is replete with diverse wildlife. It is common to see deer and many species of birds on the lower reaches of the trail/mountain, and it is not uncommon to see elk and sometimes a black bear once you are in the high aspen groves on the east side of Red Mountain.