Hiking | Running | Cycling

Surrounding Marble is the White River National Forest (2,285,970 acres or 3,571.8 sq mi).  Marble is bordered on two sides by wilderness: The Raggeds Wilderness (64,992 acres, with 80 miles of trails) to the south and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness (181,117 acres, with 100 miles of trails, 6 “fourteeners“, and 9 passes over 12,000 feet) to the north.

As of July 1st, 2020, a valid hunting or fishing license is required for everyone 18 or older attempting to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This includes Beaver Lake, which is a wildlife area acquired using hunter and angler funds. If you love and care about spaces like these, the relatively small cost of a license is a great way to put that love into action and your contributions will help offset the cost of keeping the area beautiful for generations to come! For more information, see the news release. You can purchase a license online here.

Beginning in September, be cautious of hunters along any of these trails. Wear highly visible clothing, such as a red/orange vest. Most of these trails interconnect in the wilderness areas.

HIKING TRAILS

The following trails can be accessed by car as you drive from Carbondale to Marble via Hwy 133 and CR3.

  • Avalanche Creek Trail: The trailhead is near the Avalanche Campground at the end of the dirt road. A low clearance car is probably not a good idea. This trail connects with Lost Trail and Arkansas Mountain Trail in the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness.
  • Placita Trail: Watch for the trailhead sign between Redstone and the Marble turn off, as Hwy 133 crosses the Crystal River. Park there and hike, or take the one lane road a short distance to the trail head. Again, a low clearance vehicle is probably a bad idea.
  • Carbonate Creek Trail: You’ll find the trailhead parking in Marble near the Beaver Lake Lodge. Look for the trail head sign near the stop sign (one of two in town).

The following trailheads are accessible by car from the Quarry Road south of Marble. Be cautious on the Quarry Road. If the big white Yule Marble Quarry truck is coming down, find a wide spot quick. He will take the inside lane, you MUST stop on the outside. He may have 50 tons of marble on the back. These trails interconnect and take you into the Raggeds Wilderness.

  • Raspberry Creek Loop Trail: The trailhead is about 1/2 mile from the bridge. Parking and sign on the right. This trail connects with Anthracite Pass Trail.
  • Anthracite Pass Trail: The trailhead and parking is about 4 miles from the bridge, about 1/4 mile before the Yule Marble Quarry. Anthracite Pass Trail connects with Yule Creek and Raspberry Creek trails.
  • Yule Creek Trail: The Yule Creek trail junctions off the Anthracite Pass trail. 

A series of trails below can be accessed from the Lost Trail/Lead King Basin road. Many of these trails are interconnected in the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness. Getting to the trail heads requires a 4WD vehicle.

  • North Lost Trail: The trailhead is about 2 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. Lost Trail connects with Avalanche Trail, Carbonate Trail and Arkansas Mountain Trail.
  • Silver Creek Pass Trail: The trailhead is at the summit of the Lost Trail/Lead King Road, about 4 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. It’s not safe or prudent to take anything other than a high clearance 4WD to get there. Silver Creek Trail connects with Arkansas Mountain Trail and Capital Peak.
  • Arkansas Mountain Trail: This trail connects Silver Creek Trail to Avalanche Trail.
  • Geneva Lake Trail: The trail head is in Lead King Basin about 6 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. You could take the right fork via Crystal City to get there, but the road is very much rougher. Either way it’s not safe or prudent to take anything other than a high clearance 4WD to get there.  Rumor has it that Geneva Lake is where the big fish are. The trick is to get them to bite. The Forest Service stocks Geneva Lake by backpacking fingerlings.

The trails listed below are all accessed in one degree or another from the Geneva Lake trail head.

  • Trail Rider Pass: See Geneva Lake Trail and North Fork Cutoff Trail. Trail Rider Pass connects Geneva Lake and Snowmass Lake.
  • North Fork Trail: Begins at the Geneva Lake trailhead, follows the north fork of the Crystal River and connects with Frigid Air Pass, Hasley and Fravert Basins. Horses use this one quite often. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.
  • North Fork Cutoff Trail: This trail starts at the junction with the North Fork Trail and winds with the junction to the trail which connects with Geneva Lake and continues over Trail Rider Pass. It has a nice view of the north fork of the Crystal River Valley and Lead King Basin. It is a short cut for travelers going to Snowmass Lake, but it is very steep. The trail is heavily used by horses and backpackers. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.
  • Fravert Basin: Accessed from the North Fork Trail and part of a loop trail connecting West Maroon Pass and Snowmass Lake. Loves Cabin is where Outwest Guides establishes one of their wilderness camps every year.
  • Hasley Basin: Accessed from the North Fork Trail and part of a loop trail connecting West Maroon Pass and Snowmass Lake. This trail is often used by hikers going over West Maroon Pass and on to Geneva Lake and/or Snowmass Lake. It is a fairly steep trail most of the way, especially over the saddle connecting the East Fork drainage and Hasley Basin.
  • Buckskin Pass: See West Maroon Pass and Four Pass Loop.
  • East Fork/West Maroon Pass: The trailhead is in Schofield Park. Access is easiest via Crested Butte over Schofield Pass. From Marble you have to negotiate the Devils Punchbowl to get there. This trail is heavily used by hikers going from Aspen to Crested Butte. This trail connects with Hasley Basin, Frigid Air Pass and West Maroon Pass. There are breath-taking views at the passes and beautiful meadows filled with wild flowers.
  • Four Pass Loop — West Maroon to Buckskin: An ambitious backpacking trip located in the beautiful Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness that is routed over four mountain passes (West Maroon – 12,500 ft.; Frigid Air – 12,415 ft.; Trail Rider – 12,420 ft.; Buckskin – 12,500 ft.). The variety of terrain encompasses scenic forests, mid to late summer wildflowers, challenging river crossings, and provides spectacular views of the Maroon Bells and numerous other peaks of the Elk Mountain Range.

HIKING TRAILS

The following trails can be accessed by car as you drive from Carbondale to Marble via Hwy 133 and CR3.

  • Avalanche Creek Trail: The trailhead is near the Avalanche Campground at the end of the dirt road. A low clearance car is probably not a good idea. This trail connects with Lost Trail and Arkansas Mountain Trail in the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness.
  • Placita Trail: Watch for the trailhead sign between Redstone and the Marble turn off, as Hwy 133 crosses the Crystal River. Park there and hike, or take the one lane road a short distance to the trail head. Again, a low clearance vehicle is probably a bad idea.
  • Carbonate Creek Trail: You’ll find the trailhead parking in Marble near the Beaver Lake Lodge. Look for the trail head sign near the stop sign (one of two in town).

The following trailheads are accessible by car from the Quarry Road south of Marble. Be cautious on the Quarry Road. If the big white Yule Marble Quarry truck is coming down, find a wide spot quick. He will take the inside lane, you MUST stop on the outside. He may have 50 tons of marble on the back. These trails interconnect and take you into the Raggeds Wilderness.

  • Raspberry Creek Loop Trail: The trailhead is about 1/2 mile from the bridge. Parking and sign on the right. This trail connects with Anthracite Pass Trail.
  • Anthracite Pass Trail: The trailhead and parking is about 4 miles from the bridge, about 1/4 mile before the Yule Marble Quarry. Anthracite Pass Trail connects with Yule Creek and Raspberry Creek trails.
  • Yule Creek Trail: The Yule Creek trail junctions off the Anthracite Pass trail. 

A series of trails below can be accessed from the Lost Trail/Lead King Basin road. Many of these trails are interconnected in the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness. Getting to the trail heads requires a 4WD vehicle.

  • North Lost Trail: The trailhead is about 2 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. Lost Trail connects with Avalanche Trail, Carbonate Trail and Arkansas Mountain Trail.
  • Silver Creek Pass Trail: The trailhead is at the summit of the Lost Trail/Lead King Road, about 4 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. It’s not safe or prudent to take anything other than a high clearance 4WD to get there. Silver Creek Trail connects with Arkansas Mountain Trail and Capital Peak.
  • Arkansas Mountain Trail: This trail connects Silver Creek Trail to Avalanche Trail.
  • Geneva Lake Trail: The trail head is in Lead King Basin about 6 miles from the Gold Pan Gallery. Take the left fork at the top of Daniels Hill. You could take the right fork via Crystal City to get there, but the road is very much rougher. Either way it’s not safe or prudent to take anything other than a high clearance 4WD to get there.  Rumor has it that Geneva Lake is where the big fish are. The trick is to get them to bite. The Forest Service stocks Geneva Lake by backpacking fingerlings.

The trails listed below are all accessed in one degree or another from the Geneva Lake trail head.

  • Trail Rider Pass: See Geneva Lake Trail and North Fork Cutoff Trail. Trail Rider Pass connects Geneva Lake and Snowmass Lake.
  • North Fork Trail: Begins at the Geneva Lake trailhead, follows the north fork of the Crystal River and connects with Frigid Air Pass, Hasley and Fravert Basins. Horses use this one quite often. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.
  • North Fork Cutoff Trail: This trail starts at the junction with the North Fork Trail and winds with the junction to the trail which connects with Geneva Lake and continues over Trail Rider Pass. It has a nice view of the north fork of the Crystal River Valley and Lead King Basin. It is a short cut for travelers going to Snowmass Lake, but it is very steep. The trail is heavily used by horses and backpackers. Please give horses the right-of-way to prevent erosion near the trails.
  • Fravert Basin: Accessed from the North Fork Trail and part of a loop trail connecting West Maroon Pass and Snowmass Lake. Loves Cabin is where Outwest Guides establishes one of their wilderness camps every year.
  • Hasley Basin: Accessed from the North Fork Trail and part of a loop trail connecting West Maroon Pass and Snowmass Lake. This trail is often used by hikers going over West Maroon Pass and on to Geneva Lake and/or Snowmass Lake. It is a fairly steep trail most of the way, especially over the saddle connecting the East Fork drainage and Hasley Basin.
  • Buckskin Pass: See West Maroon Pass and Four Pass Loop.
  • East Fork/West Maroon Pass: The trailhead is in Schofield Park. Access is easiest via Crested Butte over Schofield Pass. From Marble you have to negotiate the Devils Punchbowl to get there. This trail is heavily used by hikers going from Aspen to Crested Butte. This trail connects with Hasley Basin, Frigid Air Pass and West Maroon Pass. There are breath-taking views at the passes and beautiful meadows filled with wild flowers.
  • Four Pass Loop — West Maroon to Buckskin: An ambitious backpacking trip located in the beautiful Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness that is routed over four mountain passes (West Maroon – 12,500 ft.; Frigid Air – 12,415 ft.; Trail Rider – 12,420 ft.; Buckskin – 12,500 ft.). The variety of terrain encompasses scenic forests, mid to late summer wildflowers, challenging river crossings, and provides spectacular views of the Maroon Bells and numerous other peaks of the Elk Mountain Range.

THE LEAD KING LOOP

The Lead King Loop 25K, 12.5K and kids 2.5K offer something for trail runners and hikers of all abilities. Named the MOST SCENIC RACE IN COLORADO by magazines and runners alike, the race includes the “best schwag bag I have ever received,” free lunch and 100% charity donation to the Marble Charter School. The 25K climbs into Lead King Basin, a scenic backcountry area and course highlight. The race takes place in September on one of the peak fall color weekends. For more information visit their web site,  http://www.leadkingloop25K.com.

CYCLING IN THE CRYSTAL RIVER VALLEY

 

From pavement to trail, there are numerous race, road and mountain bicycle opportunities up the Crystal River Valley. The West Elk Loop Scenic Byway follows Highway 133 and is on the route of the Ride The Rockies event.

Carbondale to Redstone via Hwy 133

Approximately 15 miles, 1022 ft elevation rise. The first 5 miles of the route is via a newly constructed (2010) bike path. Then it’s on the highway. Two lane, narrow edge so exercise caution.

Redstone to Marble

Continue on Hwy 133 out of Redstone, 6 miles to the intersection of Gunnison County Road 3, then 6 more miles to Marble (858 foot elevation rise).

Marble to Crystal City via Lead King Basin Loop Road

This route is a challenge and strenuous. Be ready for long hill pulls and steep, rocky inclines. The beauty of the area is worth it. Please do not stray from the road as it borders the Snowmass/Maroon Bells and Raggeds Wilderness areas. Summit: 10,500 foot elevation.

Marble to Crested Butte via Schofield Pass

“Very strenuous 30 mile trail from Marble to Crested Butte over 10,707 foot pass via narrow, rough and often dangerous roads. Heavy snowpack until late spring.” 

DISCLAIMER

Marble Crystal River Chamber (MCRC) is not responsible for any accidents or injuries. MCRC doesn’t recommend private vehicles drive these roads: Crystal, LKB, Schofield Pass, or Marble Quarry.