Mt. Thomas-FDT 1870

Difficulty:                  Moderate

Trail Use:                  Low

Length:                     7.96 miles

Elevation:                 Starts at 10,343 ft, ends at 11,719 ft, highest point 12,034 ft

Elevation Gain:        +1376 feet

Open To:                  Hiking, horseback riding

Access :   Travel 10 miles south of Eagle on Brush Creek Road to the fork of East and West Brush Creek.   Take a right at the fork onto West Brush Creek Rd., FDR 400 and travel for another 10 miles passing Sylvan Lake to Crooked Creek Pass.

• Turn right just past the cattle guard and go 1/2 mile on this short, rough road. There is limited parking at the trailhead, trailers can park at Crooked Creek Pass.

Trail Highlights :   The trail begins with a moderately steep climb through spruce/ fir forest before leveling out to follow the Red Table Mountain ridge and climbing the peak of Mt. Thomas at 11,977 feet.   The trail then travels through an alpine zone becoming rocky with little vegetation, look for large rock cairns to guide you.

After about 7 miles the trail descends into sparse stands of spruce/fir forest and ends in a large meadow that connects with Red Table Mountain Road, FDR 514.   The Mt. Thomas trail’s best features are the panoramic views seen in all directions of the Frying Pan Valley, Ruedi Reservoir, Maroon Bells, and Snowmass of Aspen seen to the south, northward, the Brush Creek drainage, Leeman Gulch, with associated lakes and the snowcapped peaks of the Gore Range are visible.   Keep an eye open for wildlife such as mule deer, elk, pikas and yellow-bellied marmots.   Brilliant alpine wildflowers are in abundance along the ridge top meadows.