West Grouse Creek #2129

Length: 8.89 miles (one way)                   Trail Use: Moderate

Difficulty: More Difficult                             Open To: XC, Snowshoe, Snowmobile (first 4.5 miles)

Beginning Elevation: 7,835 feet              Ending Elevation: 11,084 feet

Elevation Gain: +3249 ft                            USGS Map(s): Minturn, Grouse Mtn

Access from Vail : Travel west on I-70 to Exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Hwy 24. Exit here and turn right (south) onto Hwy 24. Proceed south about 1 mile and the trailhead parking lot on the right is immediately after the Meadow Mountain Business Park which is across the street.

Trail Highlights : The trail follows a dirt road for the first .25 miles. At this point the road curves left, but the trail continues straight to a junction at .7 miles. At this junction, the Grouse Lake Trail goes left, but stay right for the West Grouse Creek trail. This trail climbs along West Grouse Creek through pastureland before entering dense stands of pine, fir and spruce. The trail climbs steeply past Waterdog and Olsen Lakes crossing the north ridge of Grouse Mountain then drops down to Turquoise Lakes and the headwaters of Beaver Creek.